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 (cut time),, and (at a fast tempo) being the most common examples.
Shown below are a simple and a compound duple drum pattern.
Though the upper number must be divisible by 2, the mere fact that 2 evenly divides the upper figure does not in and of itself indicate a duple metre; it is only a prerequisite.
The most common time signature in rock, blues, country, funk, and pop is .[1] Although jazz writing has become more adventurous since Dave Brubeck's Time Out, the majority of jazz and jazz standards are still in "common 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 (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 (common time, also notated as) being the most common example.
Shown below are a simple and a compound quadruple drum pattern.