Time signatures and meter

At the beginning of a piece of music, right after the clef, you’ll see two numbers stacked on top of each other. This is the time signature — the blueprint for how beats are grouped.

Common time: 4/4

The most common time signature is 4/4 (four quarter-note beats per measure). You count: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. Beat 1 is the strongest, giving the music its steady forward drive.

Waltz time: 3/4

In 3/4 time, there are three beats per measure: ONE - two - three. It has a dancing, swaying feel — the classic waltz rhythm.