Compound time signatures (meters) use a dotted note as the basic beat which can be subdivided into three. The most common compound time signatures are 6/8 (two beats per bar), 9/8 (three beats per bar) and 12/8 (four beats in a bar). A song in 12/8 time signature sounds the same as a song in 4/4 if the rhythm is written as triplets.
Common Compound and Simple Time Signatures
Famous songs that use compound time signatures
- We are the Champions - Queen
- What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
- House of the Rising Sun - Gilbert/Hayes/Hellerman
- When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
- Everybody Hurts - REM
- Fallin’ - Alicia Keys
- Bury a Friend - Billie Eilish
- The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
A song in 12/8 time signature sounds the same as a song in 4/4 if the rhythm is written as triplets.
Both meters have four beats in the bar. However, to achieve the same triplet feel which is intrinsic to 12/8, the writer has to use the triplet symbols of the little '3' and the curved line.
The natural subdivision of a bar of 4/4 is into eight Eighth Notes (Quavers), while the natural subdivision of a bar of 12/8 is into twelve Eighth Notes.
There is a difference in music theory between compound and simple meters. Compound meters have a triplet or waltzy ‘feel’ in each beat while Simple time signatures have a duplet or walking ‘feel’ in each beat.
Sheet music often gets the time signature wrong
Sheet music will often use 4/4 as the time signature for a song, even if it has a triplet feel throughout. This makes sight-reading music just that little bit more difficult for the beginner musician. This is because triplet symbols (the curved line with the little ‘3’ under it) have to be used throughout the sheet music.
It’s much easier to use the correct time signature that reflects the ‘feel’ of the music. That is what time signatures are for!
If there is a triplet feel for just a few measures, changing the time signature is optional.
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