Duple and quadruple metre

Duple metre (or Am. duple meter, also known as duple time) is a musical metre characterized by a primary division of 2 beats to the bar, usually indicated by 2 and multiples (simple) or 6 and multiples (compound) in the upper figure of the time signature, with ²
₂ (cut time), ²
₄, and ⁶
₈ (at a fast tempo) being the most common examples.

Shown below are a simple and a compound duple drum pattern.

$\new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 2/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 100 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4 d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a } } >>$

$\new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 6/8 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4. = 80 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4. d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a } } >>$

Though the upper number must be divisible by 2, the mere fact that 2 evenly divides the upper figure does not in and of itself indicate a duple metre; it is only a prerequisite.

The most common time signature in rock, blues, country, funk, and pop is ⁴
₄.^[1] Although jazz writing has become more adventurous since Dave Brubeck's Time Out, the majority of jazz and jazz standards are still in "common time" (⁴
₄).

Duple time is common in many styles including the polka, well known for its obvious "oom-pah" duple feel. Compare to the waltz.

Quadruple metre

Quadruple metre (also quadruple time) is a musical metre characterized in modern practice by a primary division of 4 beats to the bar,^[2] usually indicated by 4 in the upper figure of the time signature, with ⁴
₄ (common time, also notated as ) being the most common example.

Shown below are a simple and a compound quadruple drum pattern.

$\new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 100 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4 d' g, d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a a a } } >>$

$\new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 12/8 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4. = 80 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4. d' g, d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a a a a a a a } } >>$

Sources

^ Schroedl, Scott (2001). Play Drums Today!. Hal Leonard. p. 42. ISBN 0-634-02185-0.
^ Sadie, S.; Tyrrell, J., eds. (2001). "Quadruple time". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.). London, UK: Macmillan.

[Schroedl-1] Schroedl, Scott (2001). Play Drums Today!. Hal Leonard. p. 42. ISBN 0-634-02185-0.

[2] Sadie, S.; Tyrrell, J., eds. (2001). "Quadruple time". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.). London, UK: Macmillan.

[1]

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