4.6: Beat Boxes for Compound Meter
- Page ID
- 258489
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The concept behind using beat boxes for compound meter is very similar to using the boxes for simple meter, but in compound meter, there are three parts to each beat instead of two. There are common patterns used in compound meter. Remembering that each beat is comprised of a group of 3 eighth notes will help you identify common patterns.
You will start with the same preparation.
Preparing Your Score
To successfully use beat boxes for rhythmic dictation, take a moment to prepare your paper.
- Write your time signature.
- Draw one box above the staff for each of the beats in the measure.
- Use your own shorthand to make marks as you hear the rhythm. You can use dashes, slashes, or dots - whatever you find works for you and is quick.
Marking Boxes
The first common pattern in compound meter is three even sounds on a beat which is shown below as three eighth notes.
This would be drawn as three even lines in a beat box. 
The next common pattern is a long sound followed by a short sound. This is shown as a quarter note and an eighth note.
This would be drawn as one long line and one short line in a beat box. 
The next common pattern is the opposite: a short sound followed by a long sound. This is shown as an eighth note and a quarter note.
This would be drawn as one short line and one long line in a beat box. 
The final common pattern is one sound on one beat. We saw and heard this when learning about simple meters, but the notation for one sound on the beat looks a little different in compound meter.
This would be drawn as one line in a beat box. 