common time

The most common time signature in music. Also known as 4/4 Time, there are four quarter notes per measure with emphasis on each.

Notated with a fancy C after the key signature, or after the barline if there is a meter change in the middle of the music.

Common time in sheet music is represented by a stylized 'C' where the time signature would normally be. It represents 4/4 time, and is so called because it is the most commonly-used time signature.

It looks something like this:

      /\
|----| /-------
|    |/      
|----/---------
|   /|     / \
|--/-|/\--|----
| |  |  |  \_/
|-| -|--|------
|  \ |  |    
|---\|_/-------
     |
    \|