What does the top number of a time signature do?

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. What is the upper number of the time signature?
2. What does the bottom number represent in a compound time signature?

What is the upper number of the time signature?

A time signature notation does two things: The top number indicates how many beats occur per measure, and the lower number gives the type of note that will receive one beat (see figure 2.2). For example, if the time signature is 4/4, the upper number indicates that there are four beats per measure.

What does the bottom number represent in a compound time signature?

In compound time signatures the top number divided by 3 represents the number of beats per measure. The bottom number indicates the type of note that divides the beat.