Way back in 2017, I published a video tutorial to help you feel the difference between 4/4 and 3/4 time signatures, and today’s post will help you feel the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures. First let’s define some basic music terms:
Time Signature
A symbol used in sheet music to indicate the number of beats per measure of music. A song’s time signature determines which strum patterns you can play.
Measure
One unit of music; a grouping of beats.
3/4 Time Signature
For songs in 3/4 time, we count quarter notes (indicated by the 4) in sets of three (indicated by the 3). A song in 3/4 time has three beats per measure and is counted 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3... Songs in this time signature are often referred to as having waltz rhythm.
6/8 Time Signature
For songs in 6/8 time, we count eighth notes (indicated by the 8) in sets of six (indicated by the 6). Eighth notes are shorter than quarter notes, so when we're playing in 6/8 time we have to count faster!
After watching the video, try clapping the patterns to some popular songs in these time signatures:
Popular Songs in 3/4 Time
Oh, My Darling Clementine is a well-known American folk song in 3/4 time:
A LOT of Christmas songs are in 3/4 time, including this lullaby:
Looking for more contemporary tunes to test this out with? Quora has a list of pop songs in 3/4 time. And playlists.net has a playlist of some, too.
Popular Songs in 6/8 Time
Fools Rush In (Can’t Help Falling In Love With You) by Elvis Presley is a popular song choice for ukulele players, and it’s the song I used in my video above. Once you try out the clapping pattern in my video, try clapping it while you sing along with Elvis:
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen has been covered by many artists and is another very popular song for string players. I like this version by Rufus Wainwright because its simple arrangement makes it easier to “hear” the count. Note: this song has a pickup note (watch my video at the top to understand what that means), so the first full measure begins on “heard” [I heard there was a secret chord… ]
Looking for more songs in 6/8 time? Check out the Spotify playlist on Playlists.net.
Above All Else, Feel the Beat!
When we're making music, our number one goal is to keep a steady beat. This is so much easier when we are able to channel the rhythm of the music through our bodies. The clapping patterns in the video are a great way to start feeling the beat which, in turn, improves our overall musicianship. Plus, it involves no special equipment, and it's something we can easily do whether we have our ukes nearby or not!
Do you have a hard time keeping the beat? Or do you naturally have a good sense of rhythm and timing? Let me know!
