Welcome back to the music theory series. This month we’re going to briefly go over compound meter. There are several including 6/8 6/4 9/8 9/4 12/8 12/4.
6/8 meter means there are six eighth notes in a measure and the eighth note receives one count. Generally, 6/8 time is divided into two groups of three eighth notes.
6/4 meter means 6 stands for 6 beats per measure and the 4 tells us that each beat is a quarter note. This means that the notes in each measure will add up to six quarter notes.
9/8 meter means 9 stands for 9 beats per measure and the 8 tells us that each beat is an eighth note. This means that the notes in each measure will add up to nine eighth notes.
9/4 meter means 9 quarter notes beats in each measure. These beats are grouped into three groups of three, making each strong beats worth one dotted half note (or one dotted minim).
12/8 meter means 12 stands for 12 beats per measure and the 8 tells us that each beat is an eighth note.
12/4 meter means four strong beats per measure, it is a quadruple time signature. Each strong beat consists of three quarter notes, which makes one dotted half note.
Probably the most famous example of compound meter in piano music is Clair de Lune by French Impressionist Composer Claude Debussy.
I love the sound of arpeggios in compound meter and use these meters in some of my own music including…