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A large letter C at the start of a staff, standing for four-four time.
Also known as: Common time, C music symbol, Letter C on the staff
The C means four-four. It is not an abbreviation of 'common' — it descends from a broken circle used in medieval notation to mean imperfect time, and the C shape is what remained of it.
Stands for four-four time, four quarter-note beats to the bar.
Contexts: Music
Descends from the broken circle of medieval mensural notation, which marked imperfect time — a full circle marked perfect, threefold time. The C is not an initial letter.
Contexts: Music
Is struck through by a vertical line to mean cut time, halving the counted beat.
Contexts: Music
A large open C occupying the height of the middle three staff lines, drawn as a thick crescent open to the right.
A shorthand for one signature rather than a different kind of mark.