Simple and Compound Meter

In this video on simple meter and compound meter we look at the meanings of these technical musical terms.

For more information and a free downloadable wall chart on the different types of meter visit https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/ho...

Simple meter (or simple time) describes when the beats can be divided into 2’s. Examples are given in the video, including 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4. Compound meter (or compound time) describes when the beats can be divided into 3’s. Examples of compound meter are 6/8 and 6/4.

The words duple, triple and quadruple are used to describe the number of beats in a bar/measure. Duple describes 2 beats in a bar, triple is 3 beats per bar and quadruple describes a piece which has 4 beats in a bar.

The words simple/compound can be combined with the words duple/triple/quadruple to give a detailed description of the music.

For example, a piece where the beats can be divided into 2’s (simple) and there are 2 beats in a bar (duple) can be described as “simple duple meter” (or “simple duple time”).
Where the beats can be divided into 2’s (simple) and there are 3 beats in a bar (triple), the piece can be described as “simple triple meter” (or “simple triple time”).
If the beats can be divided into 2’s (simple) and there are 4 beats in a bar (quadruple), the piece can be described as “simple quadruple meter” (or “simple quadruple time”).

Alternatively, where the beats can be divided into 3’s (compound) and there are 2 beats in a bar (duple), the piece can be described as “compound duple meter” (or “compound duple time”). Any time signature with a “6” at the top will be compound duple meter.
If the beats can be divided into 3’s (compound) and there are 3 beats in a bar (triple), the piece can be described as “compound triple meter” (or “compound triple time”). Any time signature with a “9” at the top will be compound triple meter.
The final example given is where the beats can be divided into 3’s (compound) and there are 4 beats in a bar (quadruple), the piece can be described as “compound quadruple meter” (or “compound quadruple time”). Any time signature with a “12” at the top will be compound triple meter.