Dear Dr. Guitar,

My question is about time signatures. I understand that a reel is in 4/4 time, which means that there are four quarter notes in each measure. That makes perfect sense as four quarters makes one whole. My question has to do with Irish slip jigs. Slip jigs are in 9/8 time, which means that there are nine eighth notes in each measure. Now, from what I learned about fractions way back in elementary school, that is patently impossible! Eight eighth notes would make a whole measure. Nine eighth notes makes a whole measure with one eighth note left over What happens to all those extra eighth notes? Do they just disappear? Do they hang around and raise their ugly little heads in the guise of those little off-tempo "hiccups" that fiddlers love but that drive rhythm guitarists crazy?

Patiently awaiting your response,

Ima Dumas