figuring out time

[robbdobbcobb]

can someone tell me how to figure out the time signature of a song?How do you know whether a song your listening to is in 4/4, 2/4, 3/4, 6/8 or whatever time signature?
Also,About strumming guitar,how would you count different time signatures while strumming?Everything i've heard and read is that the down strum is a number and the up strum is ''and''.Like 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and.Thats the only way I've heard of counting time while strumming.

[ZakJenkins]

A time signature has to do with the pattern of weak and strong beats in a song.

Like. ONE two Three four ONE two Three four. That's 4/4 time. There's 4 quarter notes in each measure. The strong beat is on the One, and a medium beat on the Three. 3/4 has 3 quarter notes, so it sounds like ONE two three ONE two three. Most classic rock and modern rock songs are written in 4/4. On the drums , the strong beat is usually noted by a snare hit, while the basic pulse is kept on the Hi Hat. (Snare tap tap tap Snare tap tap tap).

Hope this helps.

[robbdobbcobb]

thanks dude