What does this C symbol mean in music scores?

Understand music theory for guitarists and musicians. Learn scales, modes, chord construction, harmony, songwriting theory and how theory applies to real playing.
Post Reply
User avatar
Leeacoustic81
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2026 8:31 am

What does this C symbol mean in music scores?

Post by Leeacoustic81 »

I occasionally see this symbol in music scores but I have no idea what it actually means.
nztqormu3xkg1.png
nztqormu3xkg1.png (1.16 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Top
User avatar
UKPete24
I'm rocking
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2026 8:38 am

What does this C symbol mean in music scores?

Post by UKPete24 »

Cut time
Top
User avatar
Olly
Guitar Legend
Posts: 1327
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:25 pm
Location: UK
Contact:
Contact Olly

Re: What does this C symbol mean in music scores?

Post by Olly »

This is Cut Time or in the UK Cut Common Time. It is a 2/2 beat. If it didn't have the vertical line it would be Common Time which is 4/4 and this is seen quite often.
Top
User avatar
Solarflares
I'm rocking
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2026 1:00 am

Re: What does this C symbol mean in music scores?

Post by Solarflares »

4/4 is Tempus Imperfectum. Plain C
2/2 is Alla Breve. C with vertical line.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Music Theory, Scales & Chord Progressions”