4/4 time is also known as “common time” because it is the most common time we use in Western music. There are a number of time signatures one can choose to use, but the majority of music (not just rock, pop, and electro) is in 4/4 time.
Consequently, adjusting the meter of our song, even slightly, will have an impact that the listener can notice and appreciate. minor), and the occurrence(s) of modulation. While the listener may not think in these terms, the listener is innately aware of the time signature/meter of your song, just as the listener is aware of the key that we are in (major vs. Some of the most frequently used time signatures in Western music are: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, and 6/8. The upper number always represents quantity (how many) and the lower number represents quality (what kind).
So for instance, 2/4 (said as “two four”) means “two quarter notes per measure”, and 6/8 means “six eighth notes per measure”. If your songs start sounding a bit too predictable, one way to change that is by either writing songs in different time signatures, or including within your song a few measures that have a different meter (different time signature) than your overall song.Ī time signature is the meter of music, and it tells the musician how many beats per measure we are playing and what kind of note value that beat is (quarter note, half note, eighth note, etc).
