Which time signature has three beats per measure with a quarter note receiving one beat?

• A. 2/2
• B. 3/4
• C. 4/4
• D. 3/2

Answer: (B)

Time signatures tell you how many beats are in each measure and which note value gets one beat. In 3/4, there are three beats per measure and the beat is a quarter note, because the bottom number is 4. So each measure contains three quarter-note beats. The other options don’t fit: two beats per measure with a half-note as the beat in one case, four beats per measure in another, and three beats per measure but with a half-note as the beat in the last. You can count three beats as 1-2-3, or subdivide as 1-and-2-and-3-and when you need to note eighth notes.