Lesson Summary
Just like 2/4, the time signature 4/4 usually (but not always!) tells us that the macrobeats (DU) will be represented by a quarter note, and that microbeats (DU DE) will be represented by paired eighth notes.
Rhythm Cells in 4/4
Reading Rhythm Patterns in 4/4
We can read the exact same patterns we read in 2/4, except this time, we will notate them in 4/4. This is as simple as removing the bar line, and reading four macrobeats in a measure instead of two. Sometimes, if there are two pairs of microbeats, all four microbeats are beamed together.
Hi Andy, if a piece is in 4 4, but there are 3 micro beats / a division of 3, would I read that as du da di like in triple metre, or since it’s in duple, treat it as unusual and use du ba bi?
Hi Grace,
Yes, you would read it as Du Da Di. That is what Gordon would call Usual Combined – triplets in duple or duplets in triple. Hope this helps!
Andy
Hi Andy! Thanks so much! It helps a lot ^_^