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3/2 time signature

3/2 means three beats in a bar, and a half note gets each beat: a slow, broad three, ONE two three, each beat as long as two quarter notes.

60 BPM, Larghetto: fairly slow

Make a beat at 60 BPM

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How to count 3/2

Count 1 2 3, one for each half note, or 1 & 2 & 3 & in quarter notes, leaning on 1.

3/2 at a glance: its type, its beats and what a bar holds
3/2
TypeSimple triple
Beats in a bar3
A beat isA half note
A bar holdsthree half notes, six quarter notes or one dotted whole note

Music in 3/2

Renaissance and Baroque music, some sarabandes, and hymns and choral music.

3/2 or 6/4?

Both bars drawn to one scale: the wider a box, the longer its note.

3/2: 1 2 3
6/4: 1 2 3 4 5 6

6/4 is as long, six quarter notes, but groups them in two threes (ONE two three FOUR five six) where 3/2 has three pairs (ONE & TWO & THREE &). 3/2 feels in three, 6/4 in two.

How to count it and where it is heard are on the page for the 6/4 time signature.

Questions about 3/2

What does 3/2 mean?

3/2 means three beats in a bar, and a half note gets each beat: a slow, broad three, ONE two three, each beat as long as two quarter notes.

What is the difference between 3/2 and 3/4?

3/2 counts half notes and 3/4 quarter notes, so a bar of 3/2 is twice as long on paper. Both have three beats; 3/2 is usually slower and broader.

What music is in 3/2?

Renaissance and Baroque music, some sarabandes, and hymns and choral music.

What is the difference between 3/2 and 6/4?

6/4 is as long, six quarter notes, but groups them in two threes (ONE two three FOUR five six) where 3/2 has three pairs (ONE & TWO & THREE &). 3/2 feels in three, 6/4 in two.

Other time signatures

For any tempo in any of them, use the online metronome.

Play along with a beat

Open the free editor with a beat playing, then add a melody, a bass line or your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.