Time Signatures and Meter

What Is Meter in Music?#

Meter is the regular pattern of strong and weak beats that gives music its rhythmic feel. Meter is what makes us want to clap along, march, or waltz. It organizes the continuous flow of sounds and silences into predictable, repeated groupings.

Beats and Pulses#

A beat is the steady pulse underlying music — the regular tick you feel when you tap your foot. Not all beats feel the same, however. In most music, beats alternate between feeling strong (accented) and weak (unaccented).

This pattern of strong and weak beats creates meter. The strong beat typically falls at the beginning of each measure (also called a bar).

Groupings of Beats#

Different meters group beats in different patterns:

Duple meter: Beats in groups of 2 (strong + weak)

• 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-2...
• Feel: March-like, driving
• Example: Most marches; children's songs like 'Twinkle Twinkle'

Triple meter: Beats in groups of 3 (strong + weak + weak)

• 1-2-3 | 1-2-3 | 1-2-3...
• Feel: Waltz-like, flowing, circular
• Example: Waltz music; 'Happy Birthday'

Quadruple meter: Beats in groups of 4 (strong + weak + medium + weak)

• 1-2-3-4 | 1-2-3-4...
• Feel: Steady, balanced
• Example: Most pop music; many hymns

Meter vs. Rhythm#

Meter is the underlying, regular pulse framework. Rhythm is the specific pattern of long and short sounds placed against that pulse. A song has one meter but can have infinitely varied rhythmic patterns within that meter.