time signature

American  

noun

Music.

1. a numerical or other indication at the beginning of a piece showing the meter.

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time signature British  

noun

1. music a sign usually consisting of two figures, one above the other, the upper figure representing the number of beats per bar and the lower one the time value of each beat. This sign is placed after the key signature at the outset of a piece or section of a piece

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Etymology

Origin of time signature

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

time signature

“This is more like a six than a compound four,” Newman-Lessler said, referring to the segment’s tricky time signature.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2023

But a typical Bacharach composition was rhythmically complex, often wrong-footing the listener with sudden changes of time signature and irregular phrasing.

From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2023

Just listen to “The Temple,” its feverish 7/4 time signature is a nod to Prokofiev’s equally tumultuous seventh piano sonata, with nary a beat to take a breath.

From New York Times ● Oct. 12, 2021

Things like dynamics, key signature, time signature, and a song’s overall structure can be taken in by an experienced musician almost intuitively.

From The Verge ● Nov. 18, 2020

But how long each note actually lasts depends on the time signature and the tempo.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones