Sentry Page Protection

Lesson 1: Time Signatures & Note Values in Bagpipe Music


​There are 4 time signatures that appear in bagpipe music the most often. They are the following:


4/4 TIME SIGNATURE
bagpipe 4/4

Watch and listen to where the beats fall. 4/4 is a time signature used in marches, reels, strathspeys, slow marches and laments. Also, 4/4 time can be abbreviate with a "C" which stands for common time like the picture to the right.

2/4 TIME SIGNATURE

Watch and listen to where the beats fall. 2/4 is a time signature used in marches, slow marches, hornpipes, polkas and laments.

3/4 TIME SIGNATURE

Watch and listen to where the beats fall. 3/4 is a time signature used in retreat marches, slow marches, waltz's and laments.

6/8 TIME SIGNATURE

Watch and listen to where the beats fall. 6/8 is a time signature used in marches, slow marches, jigs and laments.

9/8 TIME SIGNATURE

Watch and listen to where the beats fall. 9/8 is a time signature used in marches, slow marches, jigs and laments.


12/8 TIME SIGNATURE

Watch and listen to where the beats fall. 12/8 is a time signature used in marches, slow marches, jigs and laments.



Note Values Found in Bagpipe Music

The following notes although look different are the same note value.