Lesson 5.1 - Irregular Time Signatures

 

Workbook (NEW for 2021) with answers HERE

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The only new time signatures in this lesson are

• 5/8 - 5 Quavers in a bar 
• 7/8 - 7 Quavers in a bar
• 5/4 - 5 Crotchets in a bar
• 7/4 - 7 Crotchets in a bar

They are all introduced at Grade 5 ABRSM music theory and the first three at Grade 4 Trinity College music theory.

You will remember that the top number tells you how many beats are in a bar and the bottom number tells you the type of beat. So for example 5/8 time would be 5 quaver beats in a bar.

Examination questions typically require you to 

• either add bar lines to a short passage of music, where the time signature is already given,
• or add time signatures where the bar lines are already given.

Otherwise, there is nothing more complicated than that - 

It is just a matter of counting.

To see if you have got the hang of this, could you answer these questions

Practice this topic with our workbook

"Music Theory Practice - A Complete Course"

New for 2021