It’s Tricky: Simple and Compound Time

Simple and Compund Meters

In simple meter, the beats divide into even divisions of two. The simple meter includes meter signatures such as 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4. Any time signatures with 2, 3, or 4 as the top number (such as 2/2, 2/8, 3/2, 3/8, 4/2, and 4/8) are also in simple meter, while compound meters (such as 9/8 and 12/8) divide into three notes.

Author: Jean W. Joseph

I am Jean W. Joseph, a fourth-year Media Journalism and Music Double Major at the University of The Bahamas. I am an avid multi-instrumental musician and composer who loves Junkanoo and DJing. I also love cameras and digital art – anything creative will get me. Additionally, I am a voiceover artist and a journalist focusing on Arts and Entertainment with Our News (Cable 12); I use this platform to highlight artists, musicians, and experiences the public should know about. I enjoy storytelling and will continue using my voice to bring light to the stories that are not usually told. My plans include producing movies and short films, radio dramas, and composing popular music and scores for films.