The term compound time or compound signature has a lot of significance in Western music. The time signature used to denote the number of bars and the note value comprise of two numbers one placed above the other. For example in the time signature 2/3, the word 2 indicates the number of beats in a bar and the number 3, placed lower represents the note value or "one beat." Compound time or compound meter is a time signature in which each beat is divided into three parts as opposed to two which is nothing but the simple meter.
Compound time usually have upper numbers like 6, 9 or 12. The most ordinary lower number in a compound time signature is 8, meaning the time is beaten in eight notes or quavers. The dotted note represents the beat unit for the compound time. In order to find out the number of beats per bar, one should divide the upper number by 3. For example in9/8, there are 3 beats per measure. To determine what kind of note stands for one beat (the beat unit), one should multiply the lower number (note value of a quaver) by 3. When you multiply the note value by 3, you get a beat unit as 3 quavers. Folk dances are usually found to use the compound time.
Compound time usually have upper numbers like 6, 9 or 12. The most ordinary lower number in a compound time signature is 8, meaning the time is beaten in eight notes or quavers. The dotted note represents the beat unit for the compound time. In order to find out the number of beats per bar, one should divide the upper number by 3. For example in9/8, there are 3 beats per measure. To determine what kind of note stands for one beat (the beat unit), one should multiply the lower number (note value of a quaver) by 3. When you multiply the note value by 3, you get a beat unit as 3 quavers. Folk dances are usually found to use the compound time.
