# Can someone explain time signatures to me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942 "2006-08-23T20:50:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942/21 "2006-08-24T05:01:35Z")
[QUOTE=Excalibre] From the rest of his post, I suspect he meant he never saw “2/2” written _as opposed to_ the cut-time symbol. [/QUOTE] I see, but I’ve seen both in classical and popular (musical scores) notation, and it’s not that uncommon. I would say that outside piano lesson text books, I’ve come across 2/2 more often than the cut time symbol. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942/22 "2006-08-24T05:03:03Z")
[QUOTE=Excalibre] From the rest of his post, I suspect he meant he never saw “2/2” written _as opposed to_ the cut-time symbol. [/QUOTE] Yep, and that’s what surprised me. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942/23 "2006-08-24T05:10:05Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] I see, but I’ve seen both in classical and popular (musical scores) notation, and it’s not that uncommon. I would say that outside piano lesson text books, I’ve come across 2/2 more often than the cut time symbol. [/QUOTE] Interestingly enough, the cut time/alla breve symbol can also represent 4/2 (as evidenced in some works of Brahms). Actually, looking over some piano books, it seems the more modern works tend to the 2/2 notation, while the older ones tend to the cut time notation. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942/24 "2006-08-24T05:15:24Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] > [@Sir Not Appearing on This Site](#): > > I have personally never seen 2/2 written on any piece of music Trust me, it’s common enough. [/QUOTE] I’d agree. It’s pretty common. The weirdest time signature I’ve had to deal with recently was 13/4. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942/25 "2006-08-24T05:28:25Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] The weirdest time signature I’ve had to deal with recently was 13/4. [/QUOTE] Try 7/12! ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942/26 "2006-08-24T05:34:45Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Try 7/12! [/QUOTE] Yikes. You win. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942/27 "2006-08-24T05:45:21Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Try 7/12! [/QUOTE] I can’t even figure out what that means. My musical education as a child was limited. Would that be seven dotted sixteenth notes per measure? Or what? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942/28 "2006-08-24T06:24:06Z")
[QUOTE=Excalibre] I can’t even figure out what that means. My musical education as a child was limited. Would that be seven dotted sixteenth notes per measure? Or what? [/QUOTE] Perhaps it’s some weird rhythm based on tripletised quavers? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942/29 "2006-08-24T06:32:54Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] Perhaps it’s some weird rhythm based on tripletised quavers? [/QUOTE] Yep - Wikipedia does have an entry on it, but I’m tempted to go and clean it up 😉 [Time signature - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_signature#.22Irrational.22_meters) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-time-signatures-to-me/369942.md?page=1)