time signature
nounDefinition of time signature
: a sign used in music to indicate meter and usually written as a fraction with the bottom number indicating the kind of note used as a unit of time and the top number indicating the number of units in each measure
Examples of time signature in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The time signatures and rhythms contort like snakes in a bag (though sticking to 7/4 for a lot of it provides a strange cohesion). — Christopher R. Weingarten, EW.com, "Tool's Fear Inoculum is a deeply satisfying return to form," 1 Sep. 2019 The 10-minute track, which is the longest song to ever make it onto Billboard’s Hot 100, ebbs and flows in intensity (and time signatures) seamlessly. — Chris Triunfo, BostonGlobe.com, "On ‘Fear Inoculum,’ Tool returns with a vengeance," 29 Aug. 2019 Ulicny achieves this by harnessing a twangy guitar and buoyant percussion that manically switch time signatures at whiplash speed. — Washington Post, "17 things to do in the D.C. area this weekend," 7 June 2019 The track heaves and stretches, its beat slipping through wild time signatures and then pausing for breath. — Randall Roberts, latimes.com, "California Sounds: Daniel Lanois meets Venetian Snares, Jennifer Warnes returns after 17 years and a Gene Clark acetate resurfaces," 25 May 2018 Many bands mash up styles of music, types of instrumentation, or time signatures. — Jamie Ludwig, Chicago Reader, "Hank Pearl of Black Pearl Photo on masked Swedish synth masters Priest," 2 May 2018 Frontman Johnny Rzeznik took a mandolin riff, an odd time signature, equally strange tuning and turned song that doesn’t even include its title in the lyrics -- a Goo Goo Dolls rarity -- into the band’s signature track. — Chris Payne, Billboard, "Here Are 20 Rock Songs That Turn 20 in 2018," 16 Jan. 2018 Everything In Its Right Place The opening track to an iconic album, and a great example of how masterfully Radiohead can create songs out of experimental sounds and unusual time signatures. — USA TODAY, "Playlist: What's ODESZA listening to?," 6 Sep. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'time signature.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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