Accents and time signatures: shape the pulse
The time signature groups the beats; accents mark which ones land harder. Together they turn a flat click into a rhythm with direction.
The time signature
The time signature sets how many beats are in each cycle and how they group. 4/4 has four beats; 3/4 has three (the waltz); 6/8 has six grouped in threes. Pick the one that matches the piece you're practicing.
The accents
By default, the first beat of each bar is accented, louder: it's what orients you within the cycle. In Cadence Metronome you can customize which beats are accented, tapping each beat to mark it or clear its accent.
Step by step
- Choose the time signature (4/4, for example) in the meter settings.
- Look at the row of beats: the first one shows as accented.
- Tap any beat to accent it; tap it again to make it normal.
- Hit play and hear how the accent pattern gives the bar its shape.
What it's for
- Feeling the "one" of each bar without counting.
- Practicing compound or odd meters by marking the accents where they belong.
- Building your own accent patterns for specific exercises.