In a time signature, the top number tells how many beats are in each measure. The bottom number tells what kind of note gets one beat.
For example, 2 over 4 means:
2 means two beats in each measure. 4 means the quarter note gets one beat.
As far as half note dot goes, a dot after a note adds half the value of the note.
For example, if you had 3 quarter notes and then a half note dot under 3/4 measure you would count it like this:
1 2 3 |1 2 3
quar-ter quar-ter quar-ter |half note dot
Notice how in the above, the measure contains 3 beats.
Another example to help clarify (hopefully):
Let's try 4/4 timing with 2 quarters, a half note, and then a whole note. (remember 4 beats in each measure and the quarter note gets one beat)
1 2 3 4 |1 2 3 4
quar-ter quar-ter half note |whole note keep holding
Hope that helps. :)
*edit*
The numbers got messed up. The numbers go directly over the beginning of each word.
1
quar-ter
Like that...if you still don't understand it, I'll paste it into a text file and e-mail it to you.
[Edited by Pantallica1 on 06-05-2003 at 11:41 PM]
Sometimes I hit notes only dogs can hear.
