duple and quadruple metre

{{short description|Musical metre}}

{{More citations needed|date=November 2019}}

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 {{music|time|2|2}} (cut time), {{music|time|2|4}}, and {{music|time|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 {{music|time|4|4}}.{{cite book |last = Schroedl |first = Scott |year = 2001 |title = Play Drums Today! |page = 42 |publisher = Hal Leonard |ISBN = 0-634-02185-0 }} 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" ({{music|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.