The top number of the time signature tells how many beats are in each measure, and the bottom number tells which note will represent one beat.
- What does the bottom number mean in compound time?
- What must a compound time signature have on the bottom?
- What does the bottom number B in a time signature represent?
What does the bottom number mean in compound time?
The top number tells you how many beats are in each measure while the bottom number tells you what value those beats are.
What must a compound time signature have on the bottom?
Anytime you see a time signature with an "8" as the bottom number, you have a compound time signature. Remember that a Time Signature tells us how many beats are in each measure and what kind of note is going to get the beat that we're counting.
What does the bottom number B in a time signature represent?
When looking at a time signature, the top number tells you how many beats are in one measure, while the bottom number tells you which note value is equivalent to one beat.