Understanding 6/8 Time Without the Confusion

[00:00:00]Some rhythms don't feel straight. They feel like they're moving. Instead of a rigid even pulse, there's a kind of sway that carries the music forward. This is what you hear in 6/8 and 12/8 guitar rhythms. It's not more complicated, it's just a different feel. And once you get used to that motion, that sway if you like, you'll start to feel it more and you'll open up to this sound that you get or this feel that you get with 12/8 and 6/8 time. And your playing will start to sound more, you know, natural and expressive. The following is an edit from a live stream I did with rhythm guitar specialist Mark Turko. And in it, you're going to learn how to count 6/8 rhythm and where the accents fall, how 12/8 builds on that same feel, why these rhythms create a flowing pendulum motion, and where this groove shows up in blues, rock, and ballads. So, let's get into it. 12/8 6/8 time, that's a very popular feel if you like, time signature.

[00:00:57]>> Yes. I like to equate that kind of feeling is sort of like doing this.

[00:01:02]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:01:04]>> In a sense, it's very similar to 3/4 time. It's not the same thing, but it's that that swinging kind of thing. Not to be confused with a swing feel, but that >> Yeah.

[00:01:22]>> you know? I really think that the one song that really exemplifies that really, really, really well was House of the Rising Sun. You could really feel that. Bum ba da dum bum bum bum bum.

[00:01:38]>> Yeah. So, that one.

[00:01:43]>> [music] >> Yeah, man.

[00:01:48]That's [music] sort of thing, right? And so, to this one, short of 6/8, we're talking about six eight notes in a bar or just if you want to simplify, just six instead of four.

[00:01:58]>> Yes.

[00:01:59]>> that accent on one and four. And that I I think the same thing. It's like a pendulum sort of swing. So, it's like >> Pendulum. Pendulum. Yes.

[00:02:07]>> 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> Yes. And you get that that sway.

[00:02:16]>> I love it.

[00:02:17]>> that Yeah. So, you know, a real real classic is >> Yes.

[00:02:24]>> We all know what that is. And they're most likely to write that 6/8.

[00:02:27]4 [music] 5 6 1 >> 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> Yes.

[00:02:33]>> Or if you look at Since I've Been Loving You, which I think is 12/8. So, 12/8 is just doubling it essentially.

[00:02:40]>> Yeah. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 >> So, you know, that's a slow blues in C minor, I think. So, it's like a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 [music] 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 [music] 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 etc., right? It's going to go to the five chord and Um Shine On You Crazy Diamond's a great one for you know, 12/8 I think it is. It's It's pretty much a minor blues as well.

[00:03:17]Little variations around it, but another great example of of that sort of feel.

[00:03:22]Certainly 6/8 12/8 coming to a lot of rock and yeah, music and things like that.

[00:03:27]>> Yeah, and some of those more progressive metal bands, they switch between the different ones as well. They'll play a section in 4/4, then they'll go into 6/8, and then they'll >> [laughter] >> they'll go back to 4/4, you know? And and when when when they hit the brakes, so to speak, and stop what they're playing and they switch over, it's it's it has a it has a very big impact >> Yeah.

[00:03:50]>> on the song itself. Not only maybe they go into a different riff, but the whole everything about it is so different.

[00:03:57]It's It's crazy. So, they're actually very clever when they >> Yes.

[00:04:02]>> very very clever with that stuff.

[00:04:04]>> If you want your rhythm playing to sound more polished and musical, then you will love my free acoustic rhythm guitar techniques mini course. In it, you learn five powerful ways to improve your rhythm guitar playing from strumming and chordal picking through to fills and expressive embellishments. And most importantly, you learn how to bring all these things together into real music.

[00:04:26]Click the link below, grab instant access, and start improving your rhythm guitar playing today. If you like this lesson, hit subscribe and ring the bell.

[00:04:34]That way you won't miss the next one.

[00:04:36]>> And if you want to explore more grooves on guitar, then check out the video on your screen right now where I break down the swing feel and why this is a must know for all guitar players. I'm Simon Candy. Thanks for watching, and I will see you in the next video.