Which statement about compound meter is true?

Which statement about compound meter is true?

• A. It has a duple subdivision
• B. It has a quadruple subdivision
• C. It has irregular subdivision
• D. It has a triple subdivision

Answer: (D)

Compound meter subdivides each beat into three equal parts. That triplet-like subdivision is built into how the beat is felt: in meters like 6/8 or 9/8, the beat unit is a dotted note, and it naturally splits into three eighth notes (or three of whatever the basic subdivision is). This triple subdivision gives the characteristic lilting feel of compound meters, as opposed to simple meters where the beat divides into two parts, or other patterns that don’t fit the standard three-part subdivision. So the true statement is that compound meter has a triple subdivision.

Compound meter subdivides each beat into three equal parts. That triplet-like subdivision is built into how the beat is felt: in meters like 6/8 or 9/8, the beat unit is a dotted note, and it naturally splits into three eighth notes (or three of whatever the basic subdivision is). This triple subdivision gives the characteristic lilting feel of compound meters, as opposed to simple meters where the beat divides into two parts, or other patterns that don’t fit the standard three-part subdivision. So the true statement is that compound meter has a triple subdivision.