Counting out Various Meters (Time Signatures)
by Niles Hokkanen
 
You can put these different meters into your head by
counting them out in the manner below. (Or you can sing
tunes using the count.) The number naturally produce an
accent which distinctly separates each grouping. 

Slip jig: 3 groups of 3. 
Polska: 3 groups of 4
Waltz: 3 groups of 2
Jig: 2 groups of 3

9/8 (slip jig): 
1-and-ah  2-and-ah  3-and-ah 

6/8 (double jig): 
1-and-ah  2-and-ah

12/8 (single jig/slide): 
1-(and)-ah 2-(and)-ah 3-(and)-ah 4-(and)-ah

3/4 (waltz): 
1-and 2-and 3-and

5/4: 
1-and 2-and 3-and 4   5

2/4 (16th notes): 
1-eh-and-ah  2-eh-and-ah

4/4 (8th notes): 
1-and 2-and 3-and 4-and

4/4 (16th notes...funk, or disco, etc.): 
1-eh-and-ah  2-eh-and-ah 3-eh-and-ah  4-eh-and-ah

3/4 (16th notes, polska): 
1-eh-and-ah  2-eh-and-ah 3-eh-and-ah  

7/8 (2+2+3, rachenitsa): 
1-and 2-and 3-and-ah

7/8 (3+2+2): 
1-and-ah 2-and 3-and 

11/8 or 11/16 (2+2+3+2+2, kohpanitsa): 
1-and 2-and 3-and-ah 4-and 5-and

9/4 (zembekikko): 
1 2-and 3 4, 1 2-and 3 4 5

additive 4/4 (1 bar clave 3+3+2): 
1-and-ah 2-and-ah 3-and