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If you see a larger letter C in place of a time signature, all it means is a shorthand method of specifying common time, or 4/4. A C with a slash through it represents cut time, or 2/2.

2) Practicing your Rhythmic Subdivisions

Let’s practice with a simple example. Turn your metronome on; set the time signature to 4/4 and the tempo to 80 bpm. In later installments we will work with other time signatures, but its best right now to get used to the most common time signature in music. You will hear the click popping at a regular interval and possibly a special click on the first beat of the group of four. This is how a 4/4 quarter note rhythm is viewed on the staff.

The makeup of a staff is a lot simpler than it appears. The five lines represent the order of pitches from low to high (top to bottom.) On the far left you’ll see the treble clef, which is simply a glorified G, because it circles the second line from the bottom which is the note G. The purpose of a clef is basically to specify the arrangements of notes on the staff, because there are other clefs designed for other instruments with different sound arrangements. Pianos, Guitars, Violins and many others use treble clefs while Basses, Cellos, and others use a Bass Clef. There are many other types of clef, but all you need to worry about right now is the treble clef.

To the right of the clef is the time signature as mentioned above. Many times you will see a key signature or a series of sharp signs (#) and/or flat signs (b) that specify the key of the piece between the clef and the time signature. Don’t worry about what that means right now, since we will be using a blank key signature which can either specify an open key signature or more commonly, the key of C, which has no sharps or flats. After the time signature should usually be the notes themselves.

They will have two main orientations. All notes that are below the central line will have their “stem,” or the line that branches off the circle or note head, pointing upwards. All notes above or on the middle will usually have their stems pointing downwards.

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