Time signatures
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Time signatures help count the rhythm of written music.
They come in a whole range, here's a brief guide to the common ones:
Simple time:
2/4 - count 2 per bar (1 and 2 and) 3/4 - count 3 per bar (1 and 2 and 3 and) 4/4 - count 4 per bar (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and)
Compound time:
6/8 - count 2 per bar (1 and a 2 and a) 9/8 - count 3 per bar (1 and a 2 and a 3 and a) 12/8 - count 4 per bar (1 and a 2 and a 3 and a 4 and a)
A few others:
common time - count 4 per bar, as 4/4 alla breve - count 2 minims per bar cut time - count 2 per bar, as 2/2
And more:
5/4 time - count 5 per bar 7/8 time - count 7 per bar etc
Also see Key Signatures.
Read more: Wikipedia