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Glite Dictionary
duple time

duple time

7.4
A rhythm with two beats in each bar, like many marches
  • noun
  • /ˈduːpl taɪm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tiempo doble
  • The popular music that surrounds our students is primarily in duple time.

Examples

  • Many songs in pop music are composed in duple time, making them easy to dance to.

  • Understanding duple time is essential for musicians when counting beats in a piece.

  • The waltz is a dance commonly performed in duple time, with a strong accent on the first beat.

Antonyms

triple time
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A pattern in music with three beats in each bar

Surface Forms

duple time singular
duple times plural

Morphology

duple + time

The meaning 'a rhythmic pattern with two beats per bar' is directly derivable from combining 'duple' (twofold, two beats) with 'time' (the metrical pattern), so the MWE is compositional. This follows regular descriptive patterns in musical terminology (and similar constructions exist in other languages), making it immediately comprehensible to a learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Duple time uses the idea of duple (meaning two) plus time to make a simple picture: a steady left-right step, one-two, one-two, like walking or marching. That's why it means 'two beats in each bar' in music.