Time Signature Chart

This simple but effective interactive lets you see and hear how different time signatures sounds rhythmically. Simply click on the grid with your mouse pointer or use control buttons on your computer keyboard to navigate through the possibilities. It was meant to make what might be an abstract set of musical metres into something that becomes more audible and tangible.

First up is select a time signature from the big grid at the top of the app. It’s represented as a fraction with two numbers on each button. The top number represent the number of beats in a measure. The bottom number represents what note value equals a beat.

How to Use the Interactive Time Signature Tool

When you tap a button it loads that rhythm into display area where you can look at the structure of the rhythm. After selecting a signature, simply hit play and you’ll be able to listen to the metronome count out a single measure. What you’ll notice are different click tones which each have their own pitch depending off the type of beat it’s highlighting.

There’s a high pitched tone to help locate the downbeat (first beat in the measure). There is a medium pitch for secondary accents in the measure and then a low tone for any subdivision. Below this fraction is a visual representation of the beats as they sound. You can see that there are dots lit up in time to what you’re hearing; the big orange one is the strong downbeat. The blue ones is the secondary accents, and the tiny little grey ones are the smaller subdivisions which fill out the rhythm.

Underneath the description, the type label will indicate whether it’s a simple, compound, or irregular meter. Simple meters like 4/4 divides beats into two parts. Compound meters like 6/8 group beats in threes. And then there are irregular meters that mix different group sizes, like 5/4. Knowing these types can help you feel the pulse of the music naturaly.

To change the tempo (i.e., how fast or slow the rhythm is played), there’s a tempo slider that you drag left for slower and right for faster. It also means that you can plays tricky, uneven metres slowly initially then gradually pick up speed. There’s also volume slider (on the right) to control how loud the metronome click sounds.

The fullscreen button will expand the widget and fill the whole of your screen. This lets you see the grid better. To leave fullscreen, simply tap on same button. It is handy if you’re viewing the chart on a smaller device or when you just want it to be free from distractions.

To get a concise description of the feature functionality, just press the Help button. This displays a panel that gives a brief description of what the audio signals and visual cues means. It also shows how they are organized and what numbers represent. When you’re ready to concentrate on playing and listening, simply hide this panel.

Experiment with playing similar signatures, listening to the feel that they have. Try alternating between different time signatures, such as 6/8 and 3/4, and see how this affects grouping of beats and the groove. Explore the tempo, finding a speed at which you can tap along to the subdivision comfortabley. Anticipate where the next accent is going to fall before you hear it by using the visual dots. You should of used the dots to help.