3/4 or 6/8????

[Dr. Jimmy]

Dumb question, but what is the difference between the two? I get confused counting the two. Can someone please explain, or give examples of tunes in eash???

Thanks!
Bill

[UKRuss]

Try this thread:

http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9106

[ashc]

6/8 is _two_ triplet beats. The N/8 signatures are called "compound time" signatures. A beat in compound time is a dotted 1/4 note.

6/8 is analogous to 2/4. You can notate two triplet beats in either signature. In 6/8 the beat is already 3 1/8 notes in 2/4 you would have to add the '3' to notate the triplets since a beat is a straight 1/4 note.

3/4 on the other hand is _three_ 1/4 note beats in "simple time".

9/8 is then the "equivalent" of 3/4.

That might have made it worse...but thats how it is..

EDIT: Oh well the link came in the crossfire . .

[Dr. Jimmy]

Hmmmmm..... kinda clears it up, a little.


The way I've been trying to get my feeble brain around it is to remember that Manic Depression is in 3/4 and Love Reign O'er Me is in 6/8 (I think....)

:confused:

[Julian]

think of it like this:

6/8 can be divided into two, and still make sense

3/4 can't be easily divided into two

6/8 is called a compound signature becuz it can be used like a quick 3/4 but its main use is by dividing the beats into two 123 456 123 456

so..

3/4

1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3

6/8

12 34 56, 12 34 56 OR (most common) 123 456, 123 456

[metaljustice83]

I think of it as 3/4 the quarter note gets the beat, 6/8 the 8th note gets the beat.

[Music]

If you hear a triplet figure between each beat then it is in 6/8.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Seal's "Kiss from a rose" is in 6/8. Check the song out and you'll see what I mean. The drummer plays a triplet on his hi-hat.

[Aarontrio]

Dumb question, but what is the difference between the two? I get confused counting the two. Can someone please explain, or give examples of tunes in eash???

Thanks!
Bill

What they all said, and these examples: 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' (the intro and verses) are in 3/4 - 'All Blues' by M. davis is in 6/8. So is 'Footprints' by Wayne Shorter...it's where the pulse lies.