Beats in bars

About 2 min to read, then 5 practice questions

Beats in groups

Three beats a bar, a double barline at the end

Most music has a steady beat, like a heartbeat. The beats fall into groups, and each group is a bar. A barline marks the end of each bar. A double barline ends the piece: a thin line then a thick one.

Quick check

How many bars does this music have?

The time signature

Two crotchet beats in a bar

Three crotchet beats in a bar

Four crotchet beats in a bar

The time signature is the pair of numbers at the start. The top number is how many beats. The bottom number 4 means each beat is a crotchet.

Quick check

How many crotchet beats does each bar hold here?

Common time

Four crotchet beats

The same, as common time

 is also written as a C, called common time. Count it the same way: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4.

Remember

Beats are grouped in bars, with barlines between them.
The top number counts the beats. The 4 means crotchet beats.
 can be written as C: common time.

Practise this: 5 questions, about 4 min

Answering from memory soon after reading is what makes it stick, so now is a good time.

XP for every question right first time
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