Duple metre (or Am. duple meter, also known as duple time) is a musical

metre The metre ( British spelling) or meter ( American spelling; see spelling differences) (from the French unit , from the Greek noun , "measure"), symbol m, is the primary unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), though its p ...

characterized by a ''primary'' division of 2 beats to the bar, usually indicated by 2 and multiples ( simple) or 6 and multiples ( compound) in the upper figure of the

time signature The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western culture, Western musical notation to specify how many beat (music), beats (pulses) are contained in each measu ...

, with (

cut time ''Alla breve'' also known as cut time or cut common timeis a musical meter notated by the time signature symbol (a C with a vertical line through it), which is the equivalent of . The term is Italian for "on the breve", originally meaning t ...

), , and (at a fast tempo) being the most common examples. Shown below are a simple and a compound duple drum pattern. : \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' \new voice \relative c'' >> : \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' \new voice \relative c'' >> Though it must, the upper figure being divisible by 2 does not of itself indicate duple metre. The most common time signature in rock, blues,

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whil ...

, funk, and

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

is .Schroedl, Scott (2001). ''Play Drums Today!'', p. 42. Hal Leonard. . Although jazz writing has become more adventurous since

Dave Brubeck David Warren Brubeck (; December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Often regarded as a foremost exponent of cool jazz, Brubeck's work is characterized by unusual time signatures and superimposing contrasti ...

's''

Time Out Time-out, Time Out, or timeout may refer to: Time * Time-out (sport), in various sports, a break in play, called by a team * Television timeout, a break in sporting action so that a commercial break may be taken * Timeout (computing), an enginee ...

'', the majority of jazz and jazz standards are still in four time. Duple time is common in many styles including the polka, notorious for its obvious " oom-pah" duple feel. Compare to the

waltz The waltz ( ), meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom and folk dance, normally in triple ( time), performed primarily in closed position. History There are many references to a sliding or gliding dance that would evolve into the w ...

Quadruple metre

Quadruple metre (also ''quadruple time'') is a musical metre characterized in modern practice by a primary division of 4 beats to the bar,Anon. 2001. "Quadruple Time". ''

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language ''Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and the ...

'', second edition, edited by

Stanley Sadie Stanley John Sadie (; 30 October 1930 – 21 March 2005) was an influential and prolific British musicology, musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the ''Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' (1980), whi ...

and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan. usually indicated by 4 in the upper figure of the

, with (''common time'', also notated as ) being the most common example. Shown below are a simple and a compound quadruple drum pattern. : \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' \new voice \relative c'' >> : \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' \new voice \relative c'' >>

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duple meter Time signatures