Reading Time Signatures | Music Theory
Reading Time Signatures
Look at a bar of written music and work out its time signature or note values, ported from ABRSM Grade 1 style practice questions.
Objectives
- Count the beats in a bar to identify its time signature.
- Recognize note values shown in written notation.
Worksheet
- Select the correct time signature for the bar.Answer: ______________________
- Select the correct time signature for the bar.Answer: ______________________
- Select the correct time signature for the bar.Answer: ______________________
- How many quavers are there in this note?Answer: ______________________
Answer Key
- 4/4 — The bar contains four crotchet beats in total, so 4/4 is the matching time signature.
- 3/4 — Two quavers followed by two crotchets make three crotchet beats, so the bar is in 3/4.
- 3/4 — A dotted crotchet plus three quavers makes three crotchet beats, so the bar fits 3/4.
- 6 — A dotted minim lasts for six quavers.
1. Select the correct time signature for the bar.
2. Select the correct time signature for the bar.
3. Select the correct time signature for the bar.
4. How many quavers are there in this note?