A Quick Guide To 3/4 Time Signature In Music
Introduction To 3/4 Time Signature
A 3/4 time signature is a simple triple time that signifies three quarter-note beats in a bar. Just like the 4/4 time signature, the 3/4 time signature uses a crochet beat for one beat equivalent.
The 3/4 time is the most commonly used time signature for waltz rhythm. Waltz is a highly popular ballroom dance.
Typically, waltz requires a triple meter and 3/4 time is the most used for that purpose. Some people call 3/4 time a waltz time.
In particular, there are other variations of simple triple time like 3/2 time or 3/8 time. However, we are here to discuss 3/4 time signatures.
This article will take us through what is 3/4 time signature in music. Also, we will see one or two 3/4 time signature examples. But before we go further, let us quickly answer what the time signature is in music notation.
What Is a Time signature?
The time signature is the term used in staff music notation to indicate the number of beats we have in each measure or bar. Also, it specified a note that is equivalent to one beat in the measure.
Time signature used a set of numbers or digits to specify the number of beats and note that is equivalent to one beat. The digits or numbers are like fractions because one is above the other.
You will see the time signature at the beginning of sheet music immediately after the key signature of the piece.
Notwithstanding, you can also see the time signature after the clef symbol provided the key signature is not present. This happened a lot within a piece of music and also in the key C major.
Typically, the two sets of numbers in time signature have different interpretations or meanings. Each of them points musicians to different things as related to the beat and the number of beats in each measure.
Specifically, the set of numbers at the top specifies the number of beats that each measure contains.
And the set of numbers at the bottom tells us the note value that is equivalent to one beat in each measure.
Besides using a set of numbers to represent the time signature, a well-known symbol is sometimes used. For instance, symbol C is used for the common meter that is also known as 4/4 time.
The above paragraphs give us a clue on what time signature is in music. We can read the Time signature and Types of Time Signatures in Music to learn more about it.
3/4 Time Signature
The first question we need to ask ourselves is what is a 3/4 time signature in music? To answer this question, we define 3/4 time with our understanding of time signature.
The 3/4 time signature is a simple time and has a periodic beat pattern with three beats counts. Specifically, one beat is one quarter-note, and three beats are equivalent to three quarter-notes in a measure.
So, 3/4 time is a time signature that tells us that we have three quarter-note beats in each measure.
In particular, this 3/4 time is the second most common time signature after 4/4 time in Western music. But it is widely used in different genres of music.
Specifically, 3/4 time or meter is commonly referred to as Waltz time because of its peculiar “Tah – Rah – Rah” movement that is dominated with 1 – 2 – 3 beats count.
We will understand this better with some examples shown in the example section below this section.
What Does The Top Number Of A 3/4 Time Signature Mean?
Although we have mentioned this briefly in the previous section of the article. But we will discuss this further here for more clarification and better understanding.
The upper number known as the numerator of the 3/4 time signature specifies the number of beats we have in a bar.
This number tells musicians to expect a specified number of beats in each measure, which is 3 in this case.
So, the 3/4 time signature which has three (3) as the top number, will have three beats counted in a measure.
And as a result, we will count three beats for every measure when we have a 3/4 time signature. The counting of the beat goes like this: 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, … and so on for every 3/4 meter.
What Does The Lower Number Of A 3/4 Time Signature Mean?
This has also been discussed earlier but we will again discuss it here for more clarification and better understanding.
The lower number known as the denominator of the time signature indicates the type of note that is equivalent to one beat in every measure.
As we have discussed in the 4/4 time signature article, the quarter note is the beat or pulse because we have 4 at the bottom.
So with the lower number as four (4) we have a quarter note (or crotchet beat) as one beat.
Note that the number at the bottom is like an inverse of the note value. For instance,
- The whole note is 1 and the inverse of 1 is 1
- A half note is 1/2 and an inverse of ½ is 2
- A quarter note is 4 and the inverse of ¼ is 4
- The eighth note is 1/8 and the inverse of 1/8 is 8
- The sixteenth note is 1/16 and the inverse of 1/16 is 16
We also have 1/32 and 1/64 notes with an inverse value of 32 and 64 respectively. But the lower numbers of 32 and 64 are not common.
So with the four (4) as the bottom number, it means we have a quarter note as a beat in a bar.
How to write Music Notes in 3/4 Measure?
Note that the 3 quarter note of 3 crotchet beats per measure peculiar to 3/4 time does not necessarily mean only quarter notes in every bar.
Of course, we can have different notes of different values in each measure but their total value must absolutely equal to three quarter-note beats.
For instance, the combination of rest and notes with one quarter-note, two eighth rest which is equivalent to three quarter-note beats.
On the other hand, there may be six eighth-notes in a measure. These also have notes combinations that are absolutely equal to three quarter-note beats.
What actually matters is the total number of beats each measure contains and not the type of note we have in the measure.
Notwithstanding, the combination of all the notes in any measure must absolutely equal three quarter-note beats.
3/4 Time Signature example
There is much music written with the 3/4 meter and we cannot even count them. Although it is commonly used in waltz dance music.
Nevertheless, we will show some examples of 3/4 time signatures in different forms and styles of music.
Waltz No. 2 (The Second Waltz) by Dmitri Shostakovich for Piano
This music was composed as part of Shostakovich’s Suite for Variety Orchestra. This Waltz No. 2 written in 3/4 meter is certainly the most famous from the suite.
Although the quarter note dominates the score, you can see the dotted Minim which is equivalent to three quarter-notes in some of the measures.
NEED, the Tune for I Need Thee Every Hour Hymn
The Need is the set tune for the hymn I Need Thee Every Hour. The music was composed by Robert Lowry an American writer of gospel music.
The tune was set in 3/4 time with a mixture of different notes but all the notes in each measure are absolutely equal to three quarter-note beats.
And the Glory of the Lord by George Frideric Handel
And the Glory of the Lord is an anthem chorus from Messiah, an English language oratorio composed by George Frideric Handel in 1741.
From the piano introduction above we can see how we have three crotchet beats in each bar.
Also, we can see how quaver note which is an eighth note combined with a crotchet note in bars five and six of the treble clef. Both notes combined to form a measure equivalent to three quarter-notes beats.
That means we still have three crotchet beats equivalent in each measure despite using different notes along with the quarter-note.
Violin Sonata In G Minor BWV 1020 (I. Allegro) for Violin
Violin Sonata in G minor BWV 1020 (I. Allegro) for violin composed by J. S. Bach
What Is the Conducting Pattern Of 3/4 Time Signature
In 3/4 time, every first beat of each measure is nothing but a downbeat. While this is true, the remaining two beats are upbeats.
This means downbeat – upbeat – upbeat as we count the 1 – 2 – 3 for each beat.
As we have discussed in the Three Beats Pattern In Conducting, we should move our hands downward for the downbeat or the first beat.
Then move straight to the right side for the first upbeat or second beat. And finally, move back to the starting point for the second upbeat or third beat.
Final Thought
The 3/4 time signature is all about four beats in a bar or measure. And notes and rests of different values can come together to form bars of three beats each.
We believe the post is self-explanatory and that you have learned one to two things from this article.
However, if you have any questions related to the 3/4 time signature, kindly ask in the comment section below.
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