Duple and quadruple metre

Duple metre (or Am. duple meter, also known as duple time) is a musical metre characterized by a primary division of 2 beats to the bar, usually indicated by 2 and multiples (simple) or 6 and multiples (compound) in the upper figure of the time signature, with 2
2 (cut time), 2
4, and 6
8 (at a fast tempo) being the most common examples.

Shown below are a simple and a compound duple drum pattern.

\new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 2/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 100 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4 d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a } } >>
\new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 6/8 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4. = 80 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4. d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a } } >>

Though it must, the upper figure being divisible by 2 does not of itself indicate duple metre.

The most common time signature in rock, blues, country, funk, and pop is 4
4.[1] Although jazz writing has become more adventurous since Dave Brubeck's Time Out, the majority of jazz and jazz standards are still in four time.

Duple time is common in many styles including the polka, notorious for its obvious "oom-pah" duple feel. Compare to the waltz.

Quadruple metre

Quadruple metre (also quadruple time) is a musical metre characterized in modern practice by a primary division of 4 beats to the bar,[2] usually indicated by 4 in the upper figure of the time signature, with 4
4 (common time, also notated as common time) being the most common example.

Shown below are a simple and a compound quadruple drum pattern.

\new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 100 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4 d' g, d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a a a } } >>
\new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 12/8 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4. = 80 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4. d' g, d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a a a a a a a } } >>

Sources
  1. Schroedl, Scott (2001). Play Drums Today!, p. 42. Hal Leonard. ISBN 0-634-02185-0.
  2. Anon. 2001. "Quadruple Time". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan.
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