Simple Meter Signatures

| Meter Basics | Simple Meter | Compound Meter |

Beat Value
Beat Grouping
=
Meter
(Time Signature)
Meter Name
 
1/8
one
two
+
1/8
1/8
=
 
2/8
Duple Simple
 
1/4
one
two
+
1/4
1/4
=
 
2/4
 
1/2
one
two
+
1/2
1/2
=
 
or
2/2 *
 
1/8
one
two
three
+
+
1/8
1/8
1/8
=
 
3/8
Triple Simple
 
1/4
one
two
three
+
+
1/4
1/4
1/4
=
 
3/4
 
1/2
one
two
three
+
+
1/2
1/2
1/2
=
 
3/2
 
1/8
one
two
three
four
+
+
+
1/8
1/8
1/8
1/8
=
 
4/8
Quadruple Simple
 
1/4
one
two
three
four
+
+
+
1/4
1/4
1/4
1/4
=
 
or
4/4 **
 
1/2
one
two
three
four
+
+
+
1/2
1/2
1/2
1/2
=
 
4/2

* 2/2 is called cut time; the symbol can be used in place of 2/2.
** 4/4 is called common time; the symbol can be used in place of 4/4