Rudiments: Understanding Time Signatures: Why the Crotchet Gets One Beat

Added: 2026-05-01

[00:00:00]Today we'll be talking about time signature.

[00:00:04]Okay. So what is time signature? I'm going to um explain it for you to understand what it is. Okay. Now in a choir you'll always see a choir master choir mistress choir director um doing or saying 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 like or you've watch choir conductors conducting music. Okay, that's the function of time signature. Time signature are being used to um tell you how the music is going to move. Those conducting patterns are the work of time signature.

[00:00:44]Those one two go. Those timing are works of um time signature. Okay. So now what is time signature? A time signature is simply two numbers written in form of a fraction upper and lower number at the beginning of the step to help you understand the movement of the music.

[00:01:08]And in staff notation, time signature also help you to know which note takes one beat in music. aside the movement how the um the music the beat will be divided in each of the bar. It also help you to know what note takes one bit in a particular um composition. Okay. Now time signature I've already said is made up of two numbers tapped. This is how for example this is how it's going to be. Okay. So the topic is time signature.

[00:01:51]Okay. So for instance 4 four here you see we have upper number and we have lower number. This is how time signature looks like in music. So it now helps you to know what note takes um one bit in music. So today we are going to work with one of them and then you're also going to see how time signature affects um the notes the musical notations.

[00:02:20]Okay. So today next class in the next three classes we'll be working with time signature and note values. Okay. So we are having time signature and note values.

[00:02:38]Okay, because it is the time signature that determines the value of every note.

[00:02:44]Now what is the meaning of these two numbers? Now the upper number you can write the upper number means number of bits per and lower number means Okay. So the lower number now means the type of musical notation that takes one beat in the music. Okay. So now let me explain what is bar and what is bar line. Now a bar is also known as you can call this bar or you can call it measure.

[00:03:53]So it's um divides the music the segment into I'm trying to um explain it in a way that you won't be confused or you won't need dictionary to um understand.

[00:04:09]So now bar are segments in music that um the it's the bits are equally divided into for instance like maybe drawing a check or a shape and then you equalize them. So the works of the bar the measures makes the music to be divided to be put um into equal all the segments in music are being um grouped equally.

[00:04:36]Okay. And now the bar line now are vertical lines that now divides the music into equal bar. The bar are the segments of time signature that this music are equally grouped inside while the bar line are those the line that actually helps in dividing the music now into equal parts. So now that's what it means by bar. So bar line are vertical lines that equally divides music into equal parts depending on the time signature. For instance, now the the upper number says four. So that means the work of the B line now divides all sections of the music into four four beats in each of the measures. Well, the lower number now will tell you what type of notes is going to take one beat in the music. Now let's start with the primary and then we keep going. Okay. So for example 4 four is four permanently means crotchet crotchet. So that means lower number when it is four means crotchet note which now means that crotchet is now because we said the lower number means type of musical notation that takes one bit right. So what type of musical notation does this four now represent?

[00:06:10]Now this four is like saying a nick number like someone saying alias. This for instance Alis Alias Alisim if you're calling Alisimo you are still referring to me you understand or maybe me giving myself a nick number to represent my name maybe in place of at least um someone can choose to call me uh one okay now let's say for instance in school in university you know every um student has a rake number right Uh-huh.

[00:06:47]So I'm known by my name, I'm also known by my rake number. So if my rake number is called, that is also my name. And till Christ comes, nobody will have the same rake number with me because even if we have new students next year, their year number will change. Even if they have same of my last number but their year number will change which means I will always have my own wreck number not shade. So same thing in music. So anytime you see this four down it automatically um means crochet. So which means crochet will take one beat in that music. From the notation we did, you've already seen how we sum up notes where the crotchet was. So we are going to apply numbers to our learning. Okay? Because time signature now has to do with number and then the note values based on the down number will be determined. And because you know in music in composition even in your playing music cannot be like one way. No, there will be varieties of note values like stuff like that. So that's what is important to understand the difference between saying type um okay for instance here I said number of bits per bar I'm not saying number of notes per bar note these two differences there is different between number of notes per bar and number of bits per bar in time signature we revert to number of bits per not number of notes because if we talk about notes I'm going to show you if we talk about bits I'm still going to show you here. So if I'm to ask you next time in exams in test in assignment what is the meaning of for instance 4 4 3 4 anything the upper number I hope you'll be able to tell me that it means number of bits paper not number of notes paper okay let's um put all these mic grammars into um illustration in four four now means we we are to have four crotchet beads.

[00:09:24]Now in this case of four four it means generally now this word means four crochet bits per bar. You can't see them. So this four four now means four let me write it this way. four crotchet bits per bar.

[00:09:58]There is even if I should this is the meaning of this four four. If you say four crotchet not per bar I will mark you wrong.

[00:10:17]you're not correct when it comes to music time signature because when you say for grateed bits okay then if for instance if I was giving you a composition a musical phrase or a full passage or whatever and then I ask you to determine what key signature is this and tell explain if you say for instance if the music has has some um quavers minim and then you're telling me four crotchet notes then I'm going to mark you wrong because if you say four crocheted note then what happen to other notes that are there but if you say four crotchet bit you're correct four four now let's see the what four four means and how to determine the note values This heat.

[00:11:39]These are bar lines.

[00:11:42]Can you see? These are bar lines. These are bars or measures any how you want to call it. So can you see the difference?

[00:11:50]Now this music are equally divided into what the times the upper number says. Let's see now because I said um this down number form means crotchet.

[00:12:04]Right? That was what I said. The down number four means crotchet, right? The down number means type of musical notation that takes one bit. Now in this case is crotchet. It's just like maybe someone giving you a mathematics and then say h if x= 1 find this. You understand? They've already told you that x is equal to one. So that means anywhere you see x you're going to replace it with one. Right? So they're now asking you that so they've already given you x is equal to one. So you have to um use one in place of x. So here I've already told you that crotchet is the note that represents four. So that means anywhere you see crotchet you give it the value of one bit and then from there you see other note. If it is lower or higher then you know what to do. This first bar concern. And so that means anyway we see crochet we are going to write give it the value of one right. So that means crotchet is one. Now we have four crotchets here right. So we have each crotchet carries one bit. So if this crochet carries one bit how many do we need to get this upper number? It's four right because the upper number says each bar each measures must be four bits in it. and four crotchet bits. Right?

[00:13:34]Okay.

[00:13:36]This is 1 2 3 4. This lower number means it's just like saying crochet. Okay.

[00:13:45]It's just like saying in mathematics you say take crotchet equal to one. So it's just like giving you this saying anywhere you see crochet give one. So this is permanently what this four signifies.

[00:13:59]I don't know if you understand. Okay, let me give you 30 seconds to um process all these things I'm saying.

[00:14:23]Okay, let's continue.

[00:14:26]So I said anywhere you see crochet you're going to give it a value of one because of this down number right from the no summation we did you can see now it's only not crochet that you have you have meaning from the summation we did how many crochet makes a mini how many crochet makes a mini this is we discover that two crochets is equal to one mini Right?

[00:14:56]H music is math. If one crochet is one, another one will be one. So what will be the value of this minimum will be two.

[00:15:06]Because inside one minimum there are two crochets.

[00:15:11]Do you understand? Take it slowly. You will understand.

[00:15:22]Let me explain this again. I said you see despite the fact that this four represents crotchet and it means that anywhere you see crochet you're going to give it the value of one you still encounter other notes and this is why I said that no summation was very was a foundation to this and if you don't understand no summation I'm pleading you don't rush to this topic you're you're going to confuse yourself go back to the no summation take your time go through the lessons and the assignment I've done the solution to the assignment understand it first build that foundation there now because from the no summation we did where you had two crochets when you add it together the answer was one minimum right here we are applying numbers the only difference here is that we apply numbers now because we have a time signature. Okay, then we were just doing a normal exercise with no time signature using only note. Here we have time signature which means each note now will have its own value. Okay. So if two crochets in no summation was equivalent to one minimum then now in time signature one crochet is said to be one H. Then inside one minimum we have two crotchet. So if each of the crotchet is one and then you needed two crotchet to get one minimum how what will now be the value of the minimum. You now do each project is one another is one. So this is how we get minimum is two. So which automatically means anywhere you see minimum now in this time signature it will be two.

[00:17:20]Do you understand?

[00:17:22]Meaning will be two because inside this one meaning we have two crotchet notes.

[00:17:30]This was why I said that there is different between saying four crotchet bits per bar and four crotchet notes per bar. Now this first bar is both four crotchet notes and four crocheted bits. But this bar is not four crocheted notes again. It's four crotchet bits.

[00:17:53]You understand the difference? Because if you are if you are referring to notes, then these are crocheted notes.

[00:18:00]But if you are referring to beat, these are still crotched bits because you can sum it to still have the value of crotchet beat. You understand? Now, okay. Now in the next bar you see we have just two notes but they are equivalent to four crotched bits. These are equal to four. So that means this bar is complete. This is still complete but three notes four bits. Now inside one meaning there are two crotchets.

[00:18:32]So this is how we get four bits. This how we get the upper number because the lower number is already this note. Now meaning let's see oh um semi brief this is semib brief from the noation we did inside this semibrief you can have two minms am I correct because two minms makes a semib brief right inside is each of these meaning you can have two cro Touch it. Right.

[00:19:20]Are we correct from the no summation we did? So two projects can give us a minimum. Another two project can give us a minimum and two minimum can give us a semi brief. Right? So you see I've already said the other day that one topic missed or not understood in music will frustrate your life.

[00:19:44]This this was why I took time to say that because I knew what I said.

[00:19:49]So if you I'm still repeating myself you've not really understood the notation please go back and build that foundation.

[00:19:59]In this case, if each of the crotchets is one, right?

[00:20:07]That means four crotchets is too many.

[00:20:12]Four bits. So that means and inside one semi brief here we still have four crotchet. So that means here we have four. Do you understand? Because there are four crotchet notes inside here. And each of the crotchet is one. Okay. So that's how we get four here. Do you understand?

[00:20:39]Then we have here 1 again + 1 + 2.

[00:20:44]You've already understood this part, right? Because this is crotchet and this is minimum which we've done here and here. Which one minimum carries two crotchets. Okay. Then we still have here 2 + 1 + 1. These are still four, right?

[00:21:02]And we have here four. Do we understand?

[00:21:05]Take 30 seconds again and try to process everything I'm saying because we are moving to other numbers.

[00:21:42]Okay.

[00:21:44]So, let's try more.

[00:22:59]This is called double bar line. So it it's a period. So when you use a double bar line, it means it's like a full stop in a normal speech or speaking. So it's and it's also used at the end of every musical composition.

[00:23:16]All right. So you see what type of note is this?

[00:23:21]I hope your answer is correct. What type of note is this?

[00:23:27]Okay. Now let's do it together. Are we ready?

[00:23:34]Now still 44. Okay. After 4 four I will do three four and then we end it there.

[00:23:43]This is still crotchet as one bit right we already understood up to this point because minimum inside one minimum there are two crotchets and so if each crotchet is given to be one. So two crotchet that will make a minimum will now be two. So inside one minimum are two crotchet right. Okay. Then this is half. From the not summation we did, I gave you a note like this. And your answer was that if one crochet is one. Now if one number for instance they say one number for X is one. Oh not. What should I use? Okay. Like a full orange. Thank god I have orange here. Like this full orange.

[00:24:36]Then they now say two that you when you add together you have this one orange. So that means the best thing to do is to divide this orange equally so that when you join it together two of it you can have still one of this orange. So that is what it is here. Crotchet is one. And now what is that two numbers that when you add it equally that equal two number that when you add them together because these notes are same note right? So you now need same two numbers that when you add it together it will give you the value of one. What is that number 5 seconds to answer?

[00:25:26]Okay, if your answer is half, you are correct. That means each of these quaver is half because two half makes one. Are we correct?

[00:25:42]Two halves makes one. So if one crochet is one then what is that two number that when you join two already from the note hierarchy we did you see that crotchet was here before quaver. So and you knew that you needed two quaver to get to one crotchet right.

[00:26:07]So if you needed two quvers to get to one crotchet that mean you need two numbers even if this quaver was not together you need two numbers that when you add them together it gives you one.

[00:26:19]So and the two number here is half. That means each of this quaver is each of this quaver is half.

[00:26:36]So that is how we used to have half beat in music. Okay. We have crotchet as one and we still have qua as half. Do you understand how we get this qua as half?

[00:26:50]Don't worry, I'll give you time to process everything. This time it will be like 30 seconds also. What type of note is this? This is semiquaver. Not even qua. Okay, let's do it together.

[00:27:16]From the summation we saw that two semiquaver was one quaver. Right?

[00:27:22]Another two semiquaver here one quaver.

[00:27:25]Right? Now this two quaver is one crotchet. H crochet is one. Right?

[00:27:35]And what is that two number that when you add it it give you this. So each of these qua will now be half plus half. I would have said half * 2 but I don't want confuse anybody. Make they use plus+ plus. Now you see that two semiquaver gives us one quaver and one quaver is half in this time signature. What is that number that when you add it together it will give you half? 5 seconds. What's your answer?

[00:28:16]Okay, if your answer is quarter, you're correct. So each of this is going to be quarter because two quarter makes a half.

[00:28:28]Another two quarter will make another half, right? So each of these is going to be quarter plus quarter plus quarter because two quarter here will give you 1/2 another two quarter here will give you half again and then this two half now gives you one. So which now means that each of these semi clever is going to be quarter bit.

[00:28:58]This is how we normally how we used to have quarter bits in music. Do you understand? Use 30 seconds process what I've just explained.

[00:29:21]Okay. So that means each of these is going to be not let me explain something now. Um this values are not permanent values.

[00:29:37]It's only permanent anywhere you see this time signature where down number is four. For instance, it can be 3 4 5 4 2 4. But anywhere down number is four.

[00:29:49]These are the values. But when the down number change every note here the value will also change.

[00:29:57]Do you understand?

[00:29:59]Okay. So qua is half because two quavers makes a crotchet right.

[00:30:08]Four quarters here are one two half one two half again one and then we have one.

[00:30:15]So the bar is complete four bit and then we get here four also. Do you understand?

[00:30:25]Do you understand?

[00:30:28]Now let me add one more and then um we end there. Okay. 3 4.

[00:30:37]Let's do 3 4.

[00:31:51]Three, Four means we are going to have three crotchet bits paper. Three crotchet down number is crotchet.

[00:32:03]Where should I write? Let me write it here. So upper one now means three combined with the lower number means crotch it.

[00:32:22]That means you can now see that the measures have changed from this one was four now this one is three. So that's the work of the upper number. This because of the lower number crotchet here is still one. Right? So here we have three crotchets. Are we together?

[00:32:45]We have here crotchet plus minimum we still have here three. So can you see the work the function of the upper number and now this upper number is still what the conductors always um conduct and then here this is not with three tail. What is not with three tail?

[00:33:14]Two demi semiquaver will give us one semiquaver. Right? Another two here will give us one semiquaver again.

[00:33:25]So from this four notes we have that.

[00:33:27]Right? Now let's look for the value of this note.

[00:33:34]One 2 3 four. Right?

[00:33:41]Okay. Two of it. now give us and then another two will now give us quaver right so now let's see what is the value of quaver in this time signature the value of quaver is half in this time signature right so what is that two number that when you add it will give you it's 1/4 right and what is that two number that when you add together it give you 1/4. The answer here is 18.

[00:34:18]Right? So when you add 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 + this is so when you add them together you now have adding these two will give you 1/4.

[00:34:43]These two again will give you 1/4. So adding these two will now give you this half. So that means each of these note is going to be 1/8.

[00:34:56]Do you understand?

[00:34:59]And each of this is quarter right and this is half.

[00:35:10]So you see this. So that means throughout all these note these four notes will give you the value of half.

[00:35:20]So all this will now give you one.

[00:35:26]Okay that means this crotchet I mean this bar is not complete. I need to add one more crotchet. This is one. So half plus half one two and three. Now this is half half right one. So this is three and then here we have one and two which is three again. Do you understand?

[00:35:53]Because this is where we are going to end the note that crotchet is one bit. In our next class, we move to the note that another note will take one beat and we see we'll see how all these notes the value of them will change and gradually we are moving. All right. So, um enjoy yourself.