1. Melodic, Harmonic, and Rhythmic Dictation
  2. Module 4: Compound Meters

Module 4: Compound Meters

Meters are defined both by the number of beats in a measure and the number of divisions in each beat. In compound meter, the beat is divided into three parts, and the beat-note value can be a dotted quarter, dotted eighth, or dotted half note. The divisions are always beamed in groups of three, and compound meters can be duple, triple, or quadruple. The multiple of the beat is twice the value of the beat note.

a. Compound Beats and Their First Division and Multiple Note Values

Rhythm 4A-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4A-1B

Rhythm 4A-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4A-2B

Rhythm 4A-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4A-3B

Rhythm 4A-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4A-4B

Rhythm 4A-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4A-5B

Rhythm 4A-6

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 9/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 6
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4A-6B

Rhythm 4A-7

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 12/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4A-7B

Rhythm 4A-8

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4A-8B

b. Second Division of the Beat in Compound Meter

Rhythm 4B-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4B-1B

Rhythm 4B-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4B-2B

Rhythm 4B-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4B-3B

Rhythm 4B-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 9/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4B-4B

Rhythm 4B-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 7
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_4B-5B

c. Less Common Compound Meters

Rhythm 4C-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm. It is written in 6/16.
  2. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    3. 4
  3. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    4. Rhythm_4C-1B
  4. Next, notate the rhythm in 6/4.
    5. Rhythm_4C-1C

Rhythm 4C-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm. It is written in 6/4.
  2. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    3. 4
  3. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    4. Rhythm_4C-2B
  4. Next, notate the rhythm in 6/16.
    5. Rhythm_4C-2C

Rhythm 4C-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm. It is written in 6/16.
  2. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    3. 4
  3. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    4. Rhythm_4C-3B
  4. Next, notate the rhythm in 6/16.
    5. Rhythm_4C-3C
  1. Prepare your work space. Give yourself plenty of blank measures on a clean sheet of manuscript paper.
  2. Listen. Do not try to write while listening. Just listen.
  3. Listen again. Try to pick up the beat and determine whether it is divided simply (into two pieces) or compound (into three pieces).
  4. Determine meter by listening for patterns of strong and weak beats. Also listen for rhythmic clues such as longer notes (often, but not always, on strong beats) and harmonic changes accompanying the underlying melody (most music changes chords at a rate of one chord per measure). Come up with a logical meter signature.
  5. Verify your meter signature by singing or listening to the rhythm again.
  6. Listen again. Take a shorthand rhythmic notation as you listen or sing back the melody. Make sure you jump to each new measure as it occurs. If you get stuck in a measure, skip it and go back to finish it up on the next hearing.
  7. Translate your shorthand notation to standard notation.
  8. Double check your answer by singing what you have written and comparing it to what you remember.