Time Signatures

What does it mean when you are reading sheet music, and there is a 3 over a 4....or a 4 over a 4, right next to the treble and bass clef symbol?

ANSWER

Hi, Jamie--

Those numbers are called the "Time Signature". The top numbers tells you how many beats (counts) there are in each measure and the bottom number tells you what kind of a note gets one count.

For example, 4/4 time means that there are 4 beats in a measure and a quarter note gets one count.

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Best Wishes,
Lynne