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Cover of Compound Time, Grouping & Triplets
Reference Chart

Compound Time, Grouping & Triplets

Time signatures where each beat divides into three, how to beam them correctly, and the triplet that borrows the same feel.

Letter · 1 page · 416 KB ⤢ View ⬇ Download PDF

What's inside

  • A table of 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8 — beats per bar, what one beat is, quavers per bar, and how to count each
  • Why the top number counts quavers, not beats, and how that differs from simple time
  • Beaming in threes for 6/8 and 9/8, one beam per compound beat, with notation examples
  • The triplet explained and notated — three notes in the space of two, marked with a small 3
  • Two quick-reference boxes: reading the top number, and choosing compound time or triplets
compound-timerhythmtripletsgroupingtime-signatures

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Looking for step-by-step lessons instead? Head to Music Theory. Want composing ideas? Try Composing.