In 3/4 time there are three quarter-note beats per measure, while 6/8 has six eighth notes grouped into two beats.
3/4 time
Three quarter-note beats per measure. Feels like ONE two three. Used in waltzes.
6/8 time
Six eighth-note beats, grouped in two sets of three. Feels like ONE two three FOUR five six. A compound duple meter.
Sound
3/4 is a waltz sway. 6/8 is a lilting, rolling feel.
Examples
3/4: “The Blue Danube”. 6/8: “House of the Rising Sun”.
Tip
Count to feel the groupings.
Meter and feel
3/4 time has three beats per measure with a quarter note getting one beat, giving a waltz feel with a strong beat on one, counted ONE-two-three. 6/8 time has six eighth-note beats per measure, usually grouped in two groups of three, felt as two big beats, counted ONE-two-three FOUR-five-six.
- 3/4 is a simple meter, where beats subdivide in two. 6/8 is a compound meter, where beats subdivide in three.
- Examples of 3/4: “The Blue Danube” waltz, “Happy Birthday” and “My Favorite Things.”
- Examples of 6/8: “House of the Rising Sun,” “Greensleeves” in a common arrangement and many jigs.
How to tell them apart
Tap along and feel whether the pulse comes in threes (3/4) or two pulses with three subdivisions each (6/8). Conductors beat three for 3/4 and two for 6/8. At a fast tempo, 3/4 can feel like one big beat per bar, called “one in a bar.” Sheet music shows the time signature at the start of the staff.
Meter and feel
3/4 time has three beats per measure, giving a waltz feel (ONE two three). 6/8 has six eighth note beats per measure, usually grouped in two groups of three (ONE two three FOUR five six), giving a rocking two pulse feel.
How to tell them apart
Count and note groupings. A waltz sounds like three beats; 6/8 sounds like two big beats with a triple subdivision. Examples: Blue Danube Waltz in 3/4 and Greensleeves in 6/8.
Time signature basics
In 3/4 time each bar has three quarter note beats, with the strong pulse on beat one, giving the waltz feel (one two three). In 6/8 there are six eighth notes per bar, normally grouped as two sets of three, so it feels like two main beats with each divided in three (ONE two three FOUR five six).
Counting and examples
3/4 is a simple meter, because each beat divides into two, and 6/8 is compound duple, where each beat divides into three. Both have the same number of eighth notes per bar, six, but the accents differ. Waltzes like the Blue Danube are in 3/4, and songs like Greensleeves and House of the Rising Sun often use 6/8. Tempo is counted at the dotted quarter in 6/8. Hemiola alternates between the two feels, as in America from West Side Story.
Based on data from music theory references and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
