Binary form has the sense of each smaller musical unit developing into a larger one.  The opening motive initiates the first phrase then expands to the A section, and finally to the complete piece.  We can sketch out binary form as:

We can represent binary form simply by its larger sections as well:

 ||:A:||:B:||

Another common musical form is ternary form.  This form has a three part structure where a section of music is presented, followed by a contrasting section, then the original material is restated.  This form is usually represented as:

A B A

 The opening A section may have repeats, as well as the B section, but they are not necessary for the form.  Composers may vary the final A section (A B A’), or more simply, at the end of the written B section, the performer is asked to go back to the beginning and play to  the end of the A section.

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A main feature of western music is its meter, a repeating pattern of pulses with a regular accent pattern.

Music has three different meters: duple time, triple time, and quadruple time.  The names of these meters reflect the number of pulses or beats in each measure of music:  duple time tells us that the meter has two pulses per measure, triple time has three, and quadruple time has four pulses per measure.

 For each of these meters there is also a basic accent pattern.  Duple time has a strong-weak pattern, a triple meter usually has a strong-weak-weak pattern, and quadruple meter has a strong-weak-medium weak pattern for each measure.  There are variations to these accent patterns for specific genres or styles, or occasionally  composers will play with our expectations of these meters, but for our purposes here, we shall stick with these basic patterns.

Learn to Read Music Fast and Easy

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A time signature placed at the beginning of a piece indicates its meter.. Unless we get other information, this meter is in effect for the duration of the piece. The time signature actually tells us three things: the meter, the unit of measure for each pulse, and whether we are in simple time or compound time. A time signature has an upper and lower number. In simple time signatures, the upper number relates directly to the meter: it is either a two, three, or four. The lower number tells us what note value receives the pulse or beat. The first time signature below, two-four, tells us that each measure will have two beats in a strong-weak pattern, and the quarter-note gets the beat. Three-two tells us that the piece is in a triple meter, strong-weak-weak pattern where the half-note gets the beat. And finally four-eight has four beats per measure with an eighth-note pulse.

Learn How to Read Music Notes

A dotted music note increases the length of the note by one half. For instance, a dotted half note is worth 3 beats instead of 2. A tied note simply means you play the two notes as one. Enjoy this free video lesson to help your music reading!