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+++ title = "Setting up time signature" chapter = false weight = 3 +++
The time signature determines the musical speed of the passage we are composing and is measured in beats per bars.
If we are composing something rhythmic, it will also determine the lengths of the sound samples we use to some extent. So it is important to be able to set up the time signature before we continue.
To see the time-signature-related timelines for the session, you can right-click anywhere in the "header" of the rulers and check the following options: Time Signature, Bars & Beats, and Tempo.
{{< figure src="en/ardour7-ts-timeline.png" alt="Time signature">}}
There is always at least one marker for both the time signature and the tempo in the session, right in the beginning of the timeline. You can change either of the two further in the session. To do that, you need to pick either time or bar and beat on the timeline, right-click on the dedicated timeline lane, choose New Time Signature or New Tempo, and provide a new value in the newly opened dialog.
{{< figure src="en/ardour7-new-time-signature.png" alt="New Time Signature" >}}
You can also easily change the latest time signature or tempo even if you scrolled past the point in time where you can see the marker on the timeline. Simply click on either tempo or TS button right below the secondary clock and provide a new value in the newly opened dialog.
{{< figure src="en/Ardour5_Edit_TS_and_Tempo.png" alt="Tempo and Time Signature" >}}
For the tempo (button on the left), choose the number of beats per minute (bpm) for your session.
For the time signature (button with "TS" caption on the right), you can enter new values for the beats per bar as well as the note value.
Continuing
Next, we will explore using ranges to set up a loop we can listen to while we arrange the rhythm.
Next: USING RANGES