Roessler 1

Aural Skills I: Identifying and Mapping Time Signatures Reference

During lessons we identified how music has certain feels that correspond to dances. Usually in
Western classical music, the groups usually occur in sets of two or three because these are the
feels that dominate our culture. Identifying these feels in notation is very simple: all a musician
has to do is look at the time signature and tempo marking. But what are we to do with recordings
or live music? How can we discern between a strong beat and a weak beat?

There is a very simple, sequential process that we can use in any situation:

1. Look at the title and context. Some titles always tell you the feel or time signature.
There are some rules with certain titles of pieces. All pieces marked waltz must be in
some grouping of 3; all marches are in some group of two. Other titles will not be as
helpful. But if you know that most popular music is in 4 and all club music is in 4, you
might be able say that a club mix of the latest chart-topper is in 4 before listening to it.
2. Identify the beat. Move along with the recording. If there are drums, where are they
playing? Where are you moving? You will naturally gravitate toward the beat after a few
moments.
3. Count along. First, try counting along in 4. Does it fit? Does counting along in 3 fit?
4. Listen for louder beats than others. After you found out whether the track is in 4 or 3,
what beats seem louder? Where are the drums louder or softer? Do you feel your body
moving stronger on beats 2 and 4 or beats 1 and 2? Or is the feel very aggressive and you
want to move equally on all beats?
5. Construct your graph. Remember to put the title of the song above the graph. The
number of beats goes on the x-axis and the volume/emphasis goes on the y-axis. This part
is fairly subjective, but some options are better than others.

Now lets apply this five step process with some examples.

Example A: deadmau5 I Remember (Original Mix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK1mLIeXwsQ

1. Look at the title and context. I know that Deadmau5 is a club artist and all house tracks
are in 4. So Im pretty sure that this song is in four.
2. Identify the beat. Boy, this track is groovy! I noticed a slamming kick drum on every
beat and Im moving at the same time the kick drum hits. He
3. Count along. I tried counting along in 3 but it just felt wrong. Counting along in four
works really well, so its definitely in four!
4. Listen for louder beats than others. All the beats in this example feel like they have the
same emphasis. But that snare drum on 2 and 4 feels really strong, so when I construct
my graph Ill make very slightly higher volume bars on 2 and 4 to show that there isnt
much difference.
 Roessler 2

5. Construct your graph.

deadmau5 - I Remember
5

4
Volume

0
1 2 3 4
Beat

Example B: Jamiroquai Cosmic Girl (David Morales Classic Mix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IdoWmzuops

1. Look at the title and context. Alright, so we have another club mix. I know Jamiroquai
was a very big artist in the 90s, so this is probably in four.
2. Identify the beat. Wow another house track! I could tell because of that trademark four-
on-the-floor kick drum. What a groove!
3. Count along. This time I went with my gut and counted along in 4. Ok! Ladies and
gentlemen, were in four!
4. Listen for louder beats than others. Just like the deadmau5 track, this seems to
emphasize the same beat. But it has the snare drum turned up a bit, and the bass is
significantly more funky. Man, this would be a nice track to hear on the dance floor.
Alright, time to
5. Construct your graph.

Jamiroquai Cosmic Girl (David

Morales Classic Mix)
5

4
Volume

0
1 2 3 4
Beat
 Roessler 3

Example C: Jelly Roll Morton King Porter Stomp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8_2ISGOIjU

1. Look at the title and context. The title isnt that helpful here, except for telling me that a
stomp is a kind of chord progression found in jazz. I know that Jelly Roll Morton was a
jazz musician, so I can safely bet that the second and fourth beats will be a little stronger
than the other ones. But I guess Ill have to listen to it first. What a chore!
2. Identify the beat. Ok this is definitely pretty swing. Really groovy! Reminds me of
stumbling drunk down fifth avenue in New York. I feel my body moving a little stronger
on the off beats.
3. Count along. My intuition tells me to count in four. It fits!
4. Listen for louder beats than others. 2 and 4 have a much stronger feelespecially
compared to the house tracks. When I make my graph Im going to show that.
5. Construct your graph.

Jelly Roll Morton - King Porter Stomp

6

4
Volume

0
1 2 3 4
Beat

Example D: Mitsuko Uchida Mozart: Piano Sonata in F Major, K. 332 1st mov Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grVHXLY5cM8

1. Look at the title and context. This is definitely some kind of classical piece. I know that
because Mozart wrote it and its a sonata, which is a type of classical structure, so it
probably emphasizes the first and possibly third beats instead of other styles, like jazz or
house. But unfortunately, since I dont have Mozarts catalogue memorized, Im going to
have to listen to this piece. What a bummer. (Kidding!)
2. Identify the beat. There arent any drums to help me out. Im starting to feel a certain
phrase here. Ok I think I can safely tap to it. Feels a bit more like three than four, so Im
going to
3. Count along. Three fits! Im going to check it with four. Wow! That didnt work. Three
it is!
 Roessler 4

4. Listen for louder beats than others. 1 is very strong. I can tell because Uchida puts an
emphasis on it every time. And it seems like the beats are weaker afterwards. Ok now its
time to
5. Construct your graph.

Mitsuko Uchida Mozart: Piano Sonata in F

Major, K. 332 1st mov Allegro
6

4
Volume

0
1 2 3
Beat