Here are the terms you should know concerning meter and the different types of meter. Please keep in mind that meter in music is very similar to meter in poetry.
Meter – the grouping of beats into groups of twos and threes
Duple Meter – beats grouped in twos
Triple Meter – beats grouped in threes
Multimeter – A composition in which several different meters are played in succession usually in measures following each other
Ex: 4 3
4 4
Changing Meter – A composition in which the time signature is changed somewhere in the composition.
Ex: 2 to 3
4 4
Compound Meter – a composition in which a simple way is developed to count a complex meter.
Ex: 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Is counted 8 1 2
Irregular Meter – A composition in which the top number
has an odd number of beats.
Ex: 7 (3 + 2 + 2)
8 (8 8 8)
5 (3 + 2)
8 (8 8)
12/11/2002