Can You Explain Time Signatures In Plain English? Options

[better]

Everytime I try to learn about it (or most music theory) the person or thing I'm reading gets off on an 8 hour tangent and doesn't explain it in plain, simple English. (Why it so hard to explain it as- 1-2-3-4? Without getting off subject?)

[deaconblue]

Everytime I try to learn about it (or most music theory) the person or thing I'm reading gets off on an 8 hour tangent and doesn't explain it in plain, simple English. (Why it so hard to explain it as- 1-2-3-4? Without getting off subject?)

The time signature is how many beats per measure and what type of note gets the beat.

4/4 is 4 beats per measure with a quarter note receiving the beat, so 4 quarter notes in one measure(think rock and blues), 1, 2, 3, 4 -, 2, 2, 3, 4 - 3, 2, 3, 4 - 4, 2, 3, 4...
3/4 is 3 beats per measure with a quarter note receiving the beat, so 3 quarter notes in one measure (think waltz) 1,2,3 - 2, 2, 3 - 3, 2, 3, - 4, 2, 3...

the top number is how many beats will comprise one measure of music
the bottom number is the note value.

So:

4/4 = 4 quarter notes
4/4 | - - - - | - - - - |

3/4 = 3 quarter notes
3/4 | - - - | - - - |

3/8 = three eighth notes
3/8 | - - - | - - - |

4/8 = 4 eighth notes
4/8 | - - - - | - - - - |

5/4 = 5 quarter notes
5/4 | - - - - - | - - - - - |

The difference in 3/4 vs 3/8 is nuance and can be confusing without the theory background. In most western music (the geography, not the style) the quarter note will get the beat.

Does that make any sense? Unfortunately, going into the realm of music theory is not really off subject, but it is the detail behind the explanation.

Holler if this doesn't make any sense or if it drives more questions.

peace