Triple metre (or Am. triple meter, also known as triple time) is a musical metre characterized by a primary division of 3 beats to the bar, usually indicated by 3 (simple) or 9 (compound) in the upper figure of the time signature, with 3
4, 3
8 and 9
8 being the most common examples. In these signatures, beats form groups of three, establishing a triple meter feel in the music or song.The upper figure being divisible by three does not of itself indicate triple metre; for example, a time signature of 6
8 usually indicates compound duple metre, and similarly 12
8 usually indicates compound quadruple metre.
Shown below are a simple and a compound triple drum pattern.
![\new Staff <<
\new voice \relative c' {
\clef percussion
\numericTimeSignature
\time 3/4
\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 100
\stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4 d' d }
}
\new voice \relative c'' {
\override NoteHead.style = #'cross
\stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8[ a] a[ a] a[ a] }
}
>>](http://upload.wikimedia.org/score/s/9/s9u58cmgcnmemyzqn2af8injpsd1khj/s9u58cmg.png)
In popular music, the metre is most often quadruple,[1] but this does not mean that triple metre does not appear. It features in a good amount of music by artists such as The Chipmunks, Louis ArmstrongorBob Dylan.[2]
In jazz, this and other more adventurous metres have become more common since Dave Brubeck's album Time Out.[3][4][5] One noteworthy example of a jazz classic that employs triple metre is John Coltrane's version of "My Favorite Things".[6]
Triple time is common in formal dance styles, for example the sarabande, the minuet, the mazurka, the waltz and others.
Triple metre is rare in national anthems – the national anthems of Austria, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Greece, and the United States being notable exceptions.
Ingqom ( a derivative of Afro house and subgenre of house and electronic dance music) , 3-Step, a subgenre of gqom, arose during the mid-2010s to early 2020s. The 3-Step, gqom subgenre is distinguished through its triple metre characteristics, featuring three beats per bar or beats arranged in groups of three as well as distinctive kick pattern known as "three-step" (triple metre rhythmic pattern).[7][8][9][10][11]
Despite the great preponderance of quadruple meter, triple time is heard in a good deal of pop music. [...] David Seville [...] The Chipmunks [...] Bob Dylan [...] Louis Armstrong [...] Tom Jones [...]
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