The Measure Signature

1. Measure
-the space between two bars. A bar is
a vertical line on the staff.
picture

2. A measure is composed of 2 or more

consecutive beats, marked by one or more accent.
 Beat is an equal division of the
measure. It can be divided into 2,3,4 or 6
beats. Beat is not the movement of the
hand, or the foot, or the head.
The number of beats to a measure and
the number of beats a kind of note will
receive, are determined by the measure
signature.
3. Measure Signature is a numerical
sign found at the beginning of a piece of
music.
4. Functions of a Measure Signature
a. The measure signature indicates the
number of beats in a measure.
The fraction above the line, or
numerator, indicates the number of
equal beats in a measure.
(1) In ¾, 3/8, 3/2, each one indicates
a measure will have 3 equal beats.
(2) In 4/4, 4/2, and C, each one
indicates that a measure will have four
equal beats.
(3) In 2/4, 2/8, and Alla breve (c),
each one indicates that each measure
will have two equal beats. Alla breve is
similar 2/2 measure signature.
 b. The measure signature shows the kind
of note to receive one beat.
The fraction below the line, or
denominator, indicates the kind of
note to receive one beat.
(1) In 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, each one indicates
that a quarter note will receive one
beat.
(2) In 3/8, 3/4, 9/8, each one indicates
that an eight note will receive

(3) In 2/2, C , each one indicates that

each measure will have two equal
beats. Alla breve is similar 2/2
measure signature.
5. Measure signature which are not numerical
symbols. (Each has the function of a measure
signature.)

a) The common time C – is similar to a 4/4

measure signature.
b) Alla Breve (C) – is similar to 2/2
measure signature
6. Simple forms of hand movements.
a) Down-up - the 1st beat down, and the 2nd
beat goes up. This holds true is 2/4 and C.
b) Down-right-up – the 1st beat is down, the
2nd beat is right or outward, and the 3rd
goes up.
c) Down-right-left-up – the first beat goes
down, the 2nd best goes right or outward,
and the 3rd beat goes inward or left, and the
fourth beat goes up. This holds true in 4/4,
and Common Time C.
Musical Symbols and Their
Meaning
1. Breath Mark
-a comma placed above the staff to
indicate the place for taking a breath.

2. Bar
-a vertical line upon the staff, as
previously mentioned.
a. Functions of a Bar:
1) It divides the staff into measures.
2) It indicates the downward beat.

The note, or rest, just after the bar is

always a downward beat. The performer of
a musical piece is out of beat once the
beat does not go downward just after the
bar.
3. Double Bar
-consist of two vertical lines.
a. Functions of a Double Bar:
1) It shows the end of a piece of music.
2) It shows the end of a part.
4. Tie
-curve line placed above or below two or
more notes of the same pitch.
(a) (b)
 (a) (b)

In figure (a), the 3 tied notes is equivalent

to a whole note. In figure (b), the beat goes
downward just after the bar, but the sound of
the note is a continuation of the note before
the bar.
5. Dot
-a point placed after the note. The dot adds
to the length of a note, half the value of that
note.

a. If a half note (d) is equal to two beats, then

a dotted half note (d.) is 3 beats. The dot
after the half note takes the place of a
quarter note tied.
b. If the quarter note is one beat, then a dotted
quarter note is one and one-half beat.

c. A dotted half note (d.) is represented by

quarter notes.
 Sing the first illustration giving equal
emphasis on all tones. The hand movement is
down-right-up. Sing the last to illustrations.
The melody is a 3-beat tone. In the tied
quarter measure, it is represented by a dotted
half-note as in the last example.
Exercises on Dots:
6. The Broken Measure:
There are two kinds of measures according
to the number of beats in a measure. They are
(1) Broken Measure, and (2) Complete Measure.

(1) A broken measure is one in which the

number of beats does not conform to the
measure or time signature.
 The other name for a broken measure is
fragmentary measure. This means that a
complete measure was broken and that there
are two fragments. The fragments of a broken
measure are usually found at the beginning
and end of a melody or song. The following are
some examples of a broken measures.
(2) A Complete Measure is one in which the
number of beats does conforms to the measure
signature.

It is more difficult to sing a broken measure

than a complete measure because the first beat
does not have a down-ward beat.
Examples of Broken Measures found in the
Philippine Music Horizons for the Intermediate
Grades:

1) My Nipa Hut
2) Let’s Plant Some Rice
3) ‘Twas on a Sunday Evening
4) Away Now Joyful Riding
7. The Slur:
-is a curve line placed above or under two or
more notes of different pitches.

8. The Hold:
-the symbol of a hold is a curve line with a
point or dot inside.
Example:
 The function of a hold is to call for a halt in
the progress of music. A hold can be placed:
1) Above or under a note, 2) Under or over a
rest, and 3) Under or over a bar.
Examples:
1) When a hold is placed over or under a note,
the tone should be prolonged.
2) When a hold is placed under or over a rest,
the silence must be extended.
3) When placed under or over a bar, the part
before the bar should be detached from a
part after and a silence or pause is
observed.
4) A hold has no definite duration for it can be
prolonged or extended according to the
discretion of the singer or player. However,
a hold should at least be twice the value of
the note where the hold is found.
9. Repeat Mark
-it is a musical sign placed at the beginning
or end, or only at the end, of a part to be played
twice. The sign indicates that the music between
the dotted bars should be repeated.
Symbols of the repeated Mark:
1st Double Bar 2nd Double Bar
with dots after: with dots before:
 A repeat mark indicates that the portion of
music with it is to be repeated. That portion of
music may be a measure, or several measures.
Examples:
 When a piece to be repeated from the
beginning, the first double bar with dots after
is not necessary.
Examples:
Kinds of Measures
1. Half Measure
-a half note receives one beat. It can be
determined by the number 2 as the
denominator of the measure signature.
-a half note receives one beat in the
following measure signatures: 2/2, 3/2, 4/2
and Alla Breve(C).
2. Quarter Measure
-a quarter note that receives one beat is
called quarter measure. It can be determined
by the number 4 as the denominator in the
measure signature.
-a quarter note receives one beat in the
following measure signatures: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
and C or Common Time.
3. Eight Measure
-an eight note that receives one beat is
called an Eight Measure. It can be
determined by the number 8 as the
denominator in the measure signature, such
as 3/8, 6/8, 9/8.
3. Eight Measure
-an eight note that receives one beat is
called an Eight Measure. It can be
determined by the number 8 as the
denominator in the measure signature, such
as 3/8, 6/8, 9/8.