So in my previous article, I discussed what simple time signatures are and attempted to help you find ways not to just understand the theoretical definitions, but truly understand how each time signature sounds and feels. (If you would like to review the previous article, then click here.)
In Part Two here, I will be explaining the other sort of time signatures called compound time signatures. The one thing that all compound time signatures have in common is that they have quavers (or eighth notes) in groups of three, or to put it another way, the beats are grouped into dotted crochets (or dotted quarter notes).
The most common of the compound time signatures is 6/8, which is where the quavers (or eighth notes) are grouped into two groups of three. This means that the beats and pulses of a bar (or measure) would be:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Strong Weak Weak Medium Weak Weak
In a way it could be described as two dotted crochet (or quarter notes) per bar (or measure) with each beat followed by two pulses each. The 6/8 time signature is also referred to as compound duple, because there are two beats in every bar (or measure) and there is also a triple feel because each beat is followed by two pulses.
It is worth noting that many get confused with 3/4 and 6/8. The reason why many find it confusing is because if you added up the value of each bar, both would equal the same. The best way I can show you that they are very different is this:
6/8
1 2 3 4 5 6
Strong Weak Weak Medium Weak Weak
3/4
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Strong Very Weak Weak Very Weak Weak Very Weak
As you can see I have lined up where the quavers (or eighth notes) would be in each of the bars (or measures). A quick comparison should make it evident that the emphasis for a note can be quite different even when it is at the same point in a bar (or measure).
Another compound time signature is 9/8. This one occurs far less than 6/8. It is known as compound triple time where there are 3 dotted crochets (or dotted quarter notes) in each bar (or measure). 12/8 is the final compound time signature. It is known as quadruple compound time where there are 4 dotted crochet (or dotted quarter notes) in each bar (or measure). 12/8 is somewhat similar to 6/8 and sometimes a piece of music that is in 12/8 will be mistaken for being in 6/8 time. Here is the breakdown of both 9/8 and 12/8:
9/8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Strong Weak Weak Medium Weak Weak Medium Weak Weak
12/8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Strong VW VW Weak VW VW Medium VW VW Weak VW VW
NB: the VW stands for Very Weak. In the 12/8 I have used the term Very Weak to differentiate that on the 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12th quavers (or eighth notes) are not really beats but more accurately described as pulses.
There are other time signatures that exist but are rarely used which include 2/2 which has two minims (or half notes) beats per bar (or measure) and 3/2 which has 3 minims (or half notes) in each bar (or measure). These both come under the category of simple time. 3/8 also exists but it is rarely used and it might be surprising to learn that it is also simple time.
Between the previous article and this one I have covered the vast majority of time signatures, what they mean and most importantly how they are played. Some composers have been very inventive and make up their own time signature, which can be surprisingly easier to play than to categorize. Fortunately they are quite rare and if you are familiar with the standard simple and compound time signatures, you’ll be able to figure out and play the more inventive ones.