Completing a bar in compound time
Worked example: a bar of 6/8
- A bar of holds two dotted crotchets: 3 crotchet beats.
- The crotchet and the quaver take 1 and a half.
- 1 and a half are missing: one dotted crotchet fills the second beat.
Quick check
How many crotchet beats does a bar of hold?
Which time signature fits?
Add the bar up in crotchets, then match it: holds 3, 4 and a half, 6. The same total can fit a simple time too. Then the grouping decides: dotted beats and quavers beamed in threes mean compound.
Quick check
A bar adds up to 3 crotchet beats, its quavers beamed in threes. Which time signature fits?
Remember
- Count in crotchets: 6/8 holds 3, 9/8 4 and a half, 12/8 6.
- The same total in two times? The beaming decides.
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