The <time> element

Time signatures are represented by the <beats> element for the numerator and the <beat-type> element for the denominator. Multiple pairs of <beat> and <beat-type> elements are used for composite time signatures with multiple denominators, such as 2/4 + 3/8. A composite such as 3+2/8 requires only one <beat>/<beat-type> pair.

The print-object attribute allows a time signature to be specified but not printed, as is the case for excerpts from the middle of a score. The value is “yes” if not present.

Content

Exactly one of the following

In this order
- In this order (One or more times)
  - <beats> (Required)
  - <beat-type> (Required)
- <interchangeable> (Optional)
<senza-misura>

Attributes

Name	Type	Required?(Default)	Description
color	color	No	Indicates the color of an element.
Indicates the color of an element.
default-x	tenths	No	Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the `<offset>` element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the `<offset>` element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
default-y	tenths	No	Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down. This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
font-family	font-family	No	A comma-separated list of font names.
A comma-separated list of font names.
font-size	font-size	No	One of the CSS sizes or a numeric point size.
One of the CSS sizes or a numeric point size.
font-style	font-style	No	Normal or italic style.
Normal or italic style.
font-weight	font-weight	No	Normal or bold weight.
Normal or bold weight.
halign	left-center-right	No	In cases where text extends over more than one line, horizontal alignment and justify values can be different. The most typical case is for credits, such as: `Words and music by` Pat Songwriter Typically this type of credit is aligned to the right, so that the position information refers to the right-most part of the text. But in this example, the text is center-justified, not right-justified. The halign attribute is used in these situations. If it is not present, its value is the same as for the justify attribute. For elements where a justify attribute is not allowed, the default is implementation-dependent.
In cases where text extends over more than one line, horizontal alignment and justify values can be different. The most typical case is for credits, such as: `Words and music by` Pat Songwriter Typically this type of credit is aligned to the right, so that the position information refers to the right-most part of the text. But in this example, the text is center-justified, not right-justified. The halign attribute is used in these situations. If it is not present, its value is the same as for the justify attribute. For elements where a justify attribute is not allowed, the default is implementation-dependent.
id	xs:ID	No	Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
number	staff-number	No	Allows a time signature to apply to only the specified staff in the part. If absent, the time signature applies to all staves in the part.
Allows a time signature to apply to only the specified staff in the part. If absent, the time signature applies to all staves in the part.
print-object	yes-no	No	Specifies whether or not to print an object. It is yes if not specified.
Specifies whether or not to print an object. It is yes if not specified.
relative-x	tenths	No	Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the `<offset>` element or directive attribute if those are present.
Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the `<offset>` element or directive attribute if those are present.
relative-y	tenths	No	Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present.
Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present.
separator	time-separator	No	Indicates how to display the arrangement between the `<beats>` and `<beat-type>` values in a time signature.
Indicates how to display the arrangement between the `<beats>` and `<beat-type>` values in a time signature.
symbol	time-symbol	No	Indicates how to display a time signature, such as by using common and cut time symbols or a single number display.
Indicates how to display a time signature, such as by using common and cut time symbols or a single number display.
valign	valign	No	Indicates vertical alignment to the top, middle, bottom, or baseline of the text. The default is implementation-dependent.
Indicates vertical alignment to the top, middle, bottom, or baseline of the text. The default is implementation-dependent.

The <time> element

Content

Attributes

Examples

On this page