common time
The 4/4 time signature — the most frequently used meter in Western music.
In Depth
Common time places four quarter-note beats in each bar, with beats one and three strong and beats two and four weak. It is so prevalent that it has its own shorthand symbol: a C placed where the time signature would normally appear. The C does not stand for common — it derives from medieval notation's tempus imperfectum.
Virtually all popular music, most marches, and a large proportion of classical music uses common time. Its balanced, symmetrical structure makes it feel natural and predictable, which is why it serves as the default meter for dance music, film scores, and most commercial songwriting. Rock, pop, hip-hop, and country are overwhelmingly in 4/4.
An estimated 90% of all popular music released since 1950 is in common time (4/4) — making it by far the most dominant time signature in commercial music.