Cut Time

sakuramimato · Post by **sakuramimato** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 4:16 am

I know, this must seem odd for me to be asking, but from playing
''Candide Suite'', I found myself baffled by the cut-time marking through
most of the songs. I recently learned that cut-time is in 2/2, but even my
attempts at trying to play in cut-time are in vain as I quickly lose rhythm and
get lost in my counting. Do you have any tips on how to play with cut-time.
*Candide tempo is Allegro Furioso, so ~160. I lose my rhythm and pulse to the
pieces too easily at this tempo. Thank you spendin the time to read and help.

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 9:25 am

Hi~ Rhythm's are probably my biggest challenge right now so I
am not a big help with those but I was wondering if you are working with a
metronome. If not that would probably be a big help. Kim

minsmusic · Post by **minsmusic** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:33 am

2/2 means there are 2 lots of half notes per measure. So
really it's like playing a slower version of 4/4 time. In 4/4 time it goes:
STRONG beat, weak beat, NOTASSTRONG beat, weak beat. In 2/2 time it goes: STRONG
beat, weak beat, STRONG beat, weak beat. Almost like 2/4, but it takes place in
the same measure. Just count 1234, 1234 etc and you'll get it. I'm afraid
I've never heard 2/2 called cut time. (In Aussieland we use different terms)
Try writing a piece in 3/2 i.e 3 lots of half notes in one measure. Then you can
probably hear the difference a little better. Hope this helps!

minsmusic · Post by **minsmusic** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:36 am

Oh! And Kim's idea is a good one. If your metronome doesn't
have 2/2 just use 4/4 Happy learning Happy playing Happy being

minsmusic · Post by **minsmusic** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:38 am

...sorry for popping up again but I just thought, do you call
it cut time because it has a line through the C?

MvAuMsPrInCeSs06 · Post by **MvAuMsPrInCeSs06** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 5:35 pm

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTIPS ON WRITING MUSIC IN MINOR KEYS?

dancingflutist3000 · Post by **dancingflutist3000** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 5:30 pm

[quote] ---------------- On 2/4/2004 2:33:56 AM 2/2 means
there are 2 lots of half notes per measure. So really it's like playing a
slower version of 4/4 time. In 4/4 time it goes: STRONG beat, weak beat,
NOTASSTRONG beat, weak beat. In 2/2 time it goes: STRONG beat, weak beat, STRONG
beat, weak beat. Almost like 2/4, but it takes place in the same measure. Just
count 1234, 1234 etc and you'll get it. I'm afraid I've never heard 2/2
called cut time. (In Aussieland we use different terms) Try writing a piece in
3/2 i.e 3 lots of half notes in one measure. Then you can probably hear the
difference a little better. Hope this helps! ---------------- [/quote] But
isn't 2/2 time FASTER than 4/4?

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 5:46 pm

Cut time as used in dance music or jazz generally means that
the music is played twice as fast as you would ordinarily expect, based on the
notes. Where normally a crotchet would correspond to a beat, now the minim
becomes the unit of counting. Merengue music is usually notated in cut-time;
each of the " one two" steps corresponds to a minim instead of a crotchet as
might have been expected. crotchet=quarter note