Time

shellymoptop101 · Post by **shellymoptop101** » Wed Jan 08, 2003 4:13 pm

What does the time signature 12/8 mean? I know it means that there
are 12 beats in a measure and the 8th note gets the beat, but what really does
that mean?

damjan · Post by **damjan** » Wed Jan 08, 2003 4:29 pm

12/8 is usually actually four strong beats, each of which gets 3
eight-notes. It is usually used in Latin music to notate the African bell
pattern (cow bell): /quarter-quarter-eight-quarter-quarter-quarter-eight/ I do
not know if that "notation" is clear but you might know what I mean. Regards,

sweetensour · Post by **sweetensour** » Thu Jan 09, 2003 1:43 am

think of 2 eighth notes as a quarter note.. so it would go "1-2,
3-4, 5-6, 7-8", if that makes sense.

Tachugar · Post by **Tachugar** » Sat Mar 01, 2003 12:27 pm

twelve eights mean that there are twelve beats as u say in the bar
though the number at the bottom means how the beats are....ie 4/4 is 4 crotchet
beats 3/2 three minim bets 12/8 means twelve quaver beats like 9/8 and so
on......... the bottom number indicates the beats 2=minim 4=crotchet 8=quaver
hope it helps![:bigsmile:]

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Fri Mar 07, 2003 7:58 am

12/8 means "12 beats in the measure, eighth note gets the beat," so
you've got the basic idea. 12/8 time is a compound meter. That means that the
beats will be grouped into 3's instead of 2's. 12/3=4, so there are 4 large
beats in the measure if it is fast 12/8. If it is slow 12/8, your director may
beat all 12 eighths in the measure. Fast 12/8 is like playing in 4/4, but
triplets on every beat instead of two eighths. Hope this helps!