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Step 1
Notice that time signatures contain two numbers, one number on top and one number on the bottom.
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Step 2
First, we need to review two definitions.
Beat - The basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music (wordnet.princeton.edu)
Measure - The smallest metrical divisions of a composition, containing a fixed number of beats, marked off by vertical lines on the staff. (http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/) -
Step 3
The top number tells you the number of beats in each measure.
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Step 4
The bottom number tells you the value of note that gets one beat.
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Step 5
-A 1 on the bottom of the time signature lets you know that the whole note gets one beat.
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Step 6
-A 2 on the bottom of the time signature lets you know that the half note gets one beat.
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Step 7
-A 4 on the bottom of the time signature lets you know that the quarter note gets one beat.
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Step 8
-An 8 on the bottom of the time signature lets you know that the eighth note gets one beat.
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Step 9
-A 16 on the bottom of the time signature lets you know that the sixteenth note gets one beat.
