If more are eighth notes, it may make sense to have the eighth note take the beat. For instance, if most of the notes are quarter notes and half notes, it may make sense to have the quarter note take the beat. Look at the length of the notes to decide which time signature seems best. When looking at the top number, it tells you the type of meter of the song: 2 = simple double, 3 = simple triple, 4 = simple quadruple, 6 = compound double, 8 = compound triple, and 12 = compound quadruple.Time signatures are also referred to as meter signatures, and the time signatures tell you the meter for the song.3/8, however, is a simple meter because the top number is less than 6. Following the rule of compound meters, 6/4 is a compound meter because there's a '6' on top, which is multiple of 3.For a compound meter, it must be 6 or higher and a multiple of 3.

The main way to identify a compound meter is to look at the upper number.

In a compound time signature, dotted notes get the beat, such as a dotted quarter note, dotted half note, and so on. A simple time signature means a regular note (not a dotted one) gets the beat, such as a quarter note, half note, or whole note. Find the time signature at the beginning of the song, just after the treble or base clef. Distinguish between simple and compound time signatures.