ABSTRACT
The difference between a simple meter and a compound meter is in the division of the beat. In simple meters, the beat divides into two parts while in compound meters the beat divides into three parts. A whole-note divides into two half-notes, a half-note divides into two quarter-notes, and so on. This scheme matches the division into twos that occurs in simple meters but is at odds with the compound meter’s division of the beat into three parts. Dictations may include ties, but will not include rests. The reason for this difference lies in the fact that all note values in Western notation divide into pairs. An accurate meter signature for bars would have a two on top and a dotted quarter-note on the bottom to show that there are two beats in the measure and that the dotted quarter-note gets the beat.
