6/8 time

6 eighth notes per bar, stressed on 1 and 4. Six eighths in two groups of three: you feel two beats, each divided in three. With notation, sound and a metronome already set to 6/8 time.

Counts: 6 eighth notes
Beats (as felt): 2 per bar (three eighth notes each)
Stressed: 1, 4
Groups: 3+3

Two bars, counted

The upper number says how many counts the bar has (6), the lower which note is one count (eighth notes).

How to count

Count 1 2 3 4 5 6, stressed on 1 and 4 — or just the two beats: 1 and a 2 and a.

Start the metronome in 6/8 time

At 66 beats per minute, stressed as above — tempo and stress can be changed there.

Where it occurs

Six eighths in two groups of three: you feel two beats, each divided in three. It sways — barcarolle, siciliana, jigs, many ballads. The difference from 3/4: the same number of eighths, but 3/4 divides them 2+2+2, 6/8 divides 3+3.

Pieces on this site in this time

No piece on the site is in this time yet.

Related time signatures

3/4 timeThe waltz, the minuet, many songs 6/4 timeSix quarters in two groups of three — like 6/8, only written with quarters 12/8 timeFour groups of three eighths 9/8 timeThree groups of three eighths

In the glossary · Note values and rests · All time signatures

Anotona does this for you

Photograph a page of sheet music or play the melody — Anotona finds the key, engraves the notes and transposes them into any other. Free.

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Every note on this page is computed, not typed in — following the rule that also makes F# major spell its seventh degree E#, not F.