NinSheetMusic Forums

NinSheetMusic => Help! => Topic started by: MusicalTalent on May 28, 2015, 04:24:38 PM

Title: How do you find out what time signature a song is in?
Post by: MusicalTalent on May 28, 2015, 04:24:38 PM
I am a noob transcriber/arranger, and I was wondering how you would tell if a piece is in 4/4, or 3/4, etc. If it is extremely obvious then maybe I'm thinking too hard XD. Any help would be appreciated!
Title: Re: How do you find out what time signature a song is in?
Post by: Maelstrom on May 28, 2015, 04:27:56 PM
Just count it out. What feels the most natural? What part sounds like a new measure?
Title: Re: How do you find out what time signature a song is in?
Post by: JDMEK5 on May 28, 2015, 04:30:00 PM
See if you can identify an accent which usually will indicate beat one.

Also: (in case you haven't noticed it yet) there's a thread for this kind of thing if you have a specific example that you're having trouble figuring out. (http://forum.ninsheetmusic.org/index.php?topic=5475.msg205216#msg205216)
Title: Re: How do you find out what time signature a song is in?
Post by: MusicalTalent on May 28, 2015, 04:38:39 PM
Quote from: JDMEK5 on May 28, 2015, 04:30:00 PMSee if you can identify an accent which usually will indicate beat one.

Also: (in case you haven't noticed it yet) there's a thread for this kind of thing if you have a specific example that you're having trouble figuring out. (http://forum.ninsheetmusic.org/index.php?topic=5475.msg205216#msg205216)
Thanks! I wasn't talking about any specific song, I just want to have this information for when I need it XD!

@Maelstrom (I don't know how to quote multiple things because I am a scrub XD) Okay! Thanks for the advice!
Title: Re: How do you find out what time signature a song is in?
Post by: FierceDeity on May 29, 2015, 07:02:49 PM
My advice is to just play (or keep playing) music of different time signatures, and listen to music for which you know the time signature(s) already. Even with a passive investment in learning about time signatures while doing this, you'll start to subconsciously pick up the conventions common to each time signature. Understanding how syncopations work within those time signatures is especially helpful.
Title: Re: How do you find out what time signature a song is in?
Post by: MusicalTalent on May 29, 2015, 07:11:47 PM
Quote from: FierceDeity on May 29, 2015, 07:02:49 PMMy advice is to just play (or keep playing) music of different time signatures, and listen to music for which you know the time signature(s) already. Even with a passive investment in learning about time signatures while doing this, you'll start to subconsciously pick up the conventions common to each time signature. Understanding how syncopations work within those time signatures is especially helpful.

OK, Will do! Thanks!