Time Signature-Reg.

• Dec 3, 2016 - 06:33

Can the notes in the bass clef count more notes than the what the time signature signifies?
For example in a 6/ 8 time signature, the treble clef has 6 quavers per bar. Whether the bass clef can have 12 quavers per bar?


Comments

In reply to by karthiks25

This is absolutely correct. There is no 12 quavers here in a 6/8 time signature: there is 6 quavers in Voice1, AND the same duration (6 other quavers, but written in dotted half note) in another voice, eg Voice2.
This is the principle of polyphony: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphony
The note values of the different voices do not add to each other, but they merge into one another.
Re-read the chapter of the handbook regarding to the "Voices"
And it would be a good idea to download MuseScore. :)
For testing the attached file, and better understand things.

In reply to by cadiz1

Bar 2 consists of :1 dotted minim note and 2 dotted crotchet notes.

1 dotted minim = 3 crotchets = 6 quavers
1 dotted crotchet = 3 quavers...So, 2 dotted crotchets = 6 quavers

Adding up, there are 6 quavers + 6 quavers = 12 quavers.

Please correct me if I am wrong?

In reply to by cadiz1

@Shoichi:
Thanks. That's a vivid explanation using the software. Cleared.
@cadiz1:
Now, I understood why you have been using the term voice in your previous reply. Thanks.

@shoichi and @cadiz1:
In aural, it is fine to say of two different voices.
In piano, how to play the two notes of same pitch written separately as in this case?
Should one not lift the hand and the dotted crotchet g is sustained as it passes through the dotted minim and till the end of next bar? If that is the case why not denote that using a single dotted minim note only, for piano playing?

In reply to by karthiks25

You are supposed to sustain the dotted minim G the whole time - do not lift your finger off it at all.

The reason it is written with the same pitch twice is that *logically* - which is to say, *musically* - there are two different things going on at once here. One "voice" is sustaining the G, the other is playing the dotted crotchet line you see (G-B-C-B). Even though on the piano this means that *physically* you only play the G once, the composer is trying to show you that there really are two independent things going on, so hopefully your interpretation can somehow subtly make that clear.

This sort of thing is an absolutely essential aspect of piano playing, not just this piece but practically any but the most simplistic of pieces.

In reply to by Marc Sabatella

Thanks for that tip..
I have not noted it... But, is it ok for the top notes to have a stem pointing in the upward direction?
Usually notes above third line points in downward direction unless a group of quavers, semi-quavers occur where that rule is often not followed strictly.

In reply to by karthiks25

That's exactly what I meant. Stems pointing in opposite directions like that is a dead giveaway that multiple voices are involved, because the rules for stem direction with multiple voices. No need to actually check the time signature - when you see notes overlapping in time like this, with the upper notes having stems up and the lower notes having stems down, that means there are two different voices.

In reply to by karthiks25

There are no 12 8th successive note values, but 2 times 6.

The term 'voice' has multiple meanings unfortunatly. voiuce like Alot, Soprane etc, human voice singing is one, but here we're using the other meaning: rhythmical independant set of notes played at the same time. In other software produces they are called layers.

See also https://musescore.org/en/handbook/glossary-0
Voice: Polyphonic instruments like Keyboards, Violins, or Drums need to write notes or chords of different duration at the same time on the same staff. To write such things each horizontal succession of notes or chords has to be written on the staff independently. In MuseScore you can have up to 4 voices per staff. Not to be confused with vocalists, singing voices like soprano, alto, tenor and bass, which are better viewed as instruments.

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