The lower numeral indicates the beat value:
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The upper numeral indicates the number of beats per measure.
Examples
There are 3 beats per measure and the beat is the quarter note.
There are 2 beats per measure and the beat is the half note.
Simple time signatures are also called binary time signatures since the beat can be subdivided by two, four, eight…
When playing a binary rhythm, it is important to feel the beat subdivision. The beat is usually subdivided by four. This subdivision allows to play precisely most binary rhythms.
Example
In a measure with a quarter-note-beat time signature, the following rhythms can be placed on this subdivision by four:
1
2
3
4
