What does cut time on staff music mean?
In staff notation, the cut time symbol is a vertical line with two dots either side used to denote duple meter with each beat subdivided in two. The top-line figure is 2, for double, and the bottom figure is "4," indicating a quarter-note beat. In cut time, two half-notes or four quarter-notes receive one full pulse or measure of time. Therefore, cut time has two beats per bar. Cut time signature:
2
- - (vertical with one dot each side)
4