The time unit of a compound meter is divisible by three.

Some important things to remember about these measures are:

1. We recognize compound measures because the numerator (the top number in the bar) is 6, 9, or 12.
2. We get the note that occupies a beat by dividing the numerator by 3. For example, a 6/8 time signature has 2 beats.
3. We add a dot to the notes that occupy a beat.
4. The denominator (the lower number) indicates the note that occupies one-third of the time unit. For example, in a 6/8 time signature, the eighth note occupies a third of a beat, since a beat is occupied by 3 eighth notes or 1 dotted quarter note.

Meter	Beats	One beat	One measure
	2
	3
	4
	2
	3
	4