Grade 1: Simple time signatures: Introduction

The time signatures you will need to know in grade 1 are:

2/4,  3/4  &  4/4.

Let’s look at each one in turn.

2/4 means two crotchet beats in a bar

The ‘2’ is the number of beats per bar and the ‘4’ indicates the beats are crotchets.  As you can see the time signature 2/4 doesn’t mean all the notes have to be crotchets but each bar must be the equivalent value to 2 crotchet beats.

Here is another example of 2/4 time.

The ‘2’ indicates beats and the ‘4’ indicates crotchets

Here is an example of 3/4 time.

3/4 means three crotchet beats in a bar

The ‘3’ is the number of beats per bar and the ‘4’ indicates the beats are crotchets.  Again you can see the time signature 3/4 doesn’t mean all the notes have to be crotchets but each bar must be the equivalent value to 3 crotchet beats.

Here is another example of 3/4 time.

The ‘3’ indicates beats and the ‘4’ indicates crotchets

Here is an example of 4/4 time.

4/4 means four crotchet beats in a bar

The upper ‘4’ is the number of beats per bar and the lower ‘4’ indicates the beats are crotchets. As above you can see the time signature 4/4 doesn’t mean all the notes have to be crotchets but each bar must be the equivalent value to 4 crotchet beats.

Here is another example of 4/4 time.

The upper ‘4’ indicates beats and the lower ‘4’ indicates crotchets

Grade 1: Simple time signatures

Please note: The grade 1 to 5 theory exams are now online. Some of the questions in the online exam have been rephrased to accommodate the new style. In this video tutorial some of the descriptions refer to the written paper of old. With regard to the online exams you will no longer be required to write your answers but you will need to analyse the questions and tick or highlight an answer.

Grade 1: Simple time signatures

Download the following questions or write the notes on manuscript before completing.

Question 1

Add the time signature to this melody.

Answer 1

If you analyse each bar you can see that there is the equivalent of four crotchet beats per bar.  Remember that two quaver beats equals the same value as a crotchet and the minim beat is the same as two crotchets.  The dotted crotchet is equal to a beat and a half.

Question 2

Add the time signature to this melody.

Answer 2

If you analyse each bar you can see that there is the equivalent of three crotchet beats per bar.  Remember that two quaver beats equals the same value as a crotchet and the minim beat is the same as two crotchets.  The dotted crotchet is equal to a beat and a half.  This example includes the dotted quaver and semiquaver.  The value of these notes added together equals a crotchet.

Question 3

Add the time signature to this melody.

Answer 3

If you analyse each bar you can see that there is the equivalent of two crotchet beats per bar.  Remember that two quaver beats equals the same value as a crotchet and the minim beat is the same as two crotchets.  The dotted quaver followed by the semiquaver is the same value as one crotchet.

Question 4

Add the time signature to this melody.

Answer 4

If you analyse each bar you can see that there is the equivalent of three crotchet beats per bar.  Remember that two quaver beats equals the same value as a crotchet and the minim beat is the same as two crotchets.  The dotted crotchet is equal to a beat and a half.

Question 5

Add the time signature to this melody.

Answer 5

If you analyse each bar you can see that there is the equivalent of three crotchet beats per bar.  Remember that two quaver beats equals the same value as a crotchet and the minim beat is the same as two crotchets.  The value of four semiquavers is the same as a crotchet beat.  Notice in this example we have included a crotchet rest.

Question 6

Add the time signature to this melody.

Answer 6

If you analyse each bar you can see that there is the equivalent of four crotchet beats per bar.  Remember that two quaver beats equals the same value as a crotchet and the minim beat is the same as two crotchets.  The dotted crotchet is equal to a beat and a half.

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