What does the top number in the time signature tell you?

The time signature indicates how many counts are in each measure and which type of note will receive one count. The top number of a time signature is commonly 2, 3, 4, or 6. The bottom number of a time signature is either 4 or 8.

1. Does the top number tell you how many beats?
2. What 3 things does the top number represent?

Does the top number tell you how many beats?

The top number tells you how many beats there are in one measure. The bottom number tells you what kind of note is considered one beat. In the first example, the bottom number is 2, which means one half note is considered one beat. The top number is 3, which means one measure has three half note beats.

What 3 things does the top number represent?

The top number tells you how many beats are in a measure. The bottom number tells you what kind of note gets a beat. For example "3/4" tells you that there are three beats per measure and that quarter notes get one beat each. In other words, three quarter notes equal one measure.