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What is the connection between time-signature, beat, and tempo? Mainly time-signature and tempo. Tempo is beats-per-minute I know, but does the time-signature affect it?

For example, in a 120bpm tempo, are note durations of 4/4 time-signature different from 2/4 time-signature? Or how about 4/4 with 6/8? Or is it merely just for adjusting/displaying the notes per measure?

Some of you may be wondering why I am confused. This is because, isnt the bottom part of a time-signature denote which notes are considered as beats? So, if 4/4 at 120bpm = 120 quarter beats per minute, then how much will a 6/8 (8th notes are considered as beats) have as beats per minute?

Thanks!

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This should probably be migrated to music.SE. – NReilingh Jul 4 '11 at 3:36
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This user has asked the same question here and on Music.SE. music.stackexchange.com/questions/3346/… – Neil Fein Jul 4 '11 at 17:01
In that case, we don't need it here - it's clearly more in Music.SE's domain. Closing. – Warrior Bob♦ Jul 4 '11 at 18:42

closed as off topic by Kim Burgaard, Neil Fein, Warrior Bob♦ Jul 4 '11 at 18:44

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1 Answer

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Your BPM is always the amount of beats per minute. The beats are defined by the bottom number in the time signature, so 4/4 will give you 120 quarter notes per minute and 6/8 will give you 120 eighth notes per minute. It will work this way for any time signature/tempo combination.

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