6/8 vs 3/4: POLYRHYTHMS From A Time Signature Difference

What is the exact difference between 3/4 and 6/8 in music?

Ok, I have to admit that this is not a particularly exciting question at first sight. After all it takes but a minute or two to explain the difference between these two time signatures.

And it's definitely not life-and-death information either: the worst you can get from picking the wrong one when you write a song is a few scowls from a musician or two.

(And these people will scowl at you even if you notate chords in a way they don't like, or if you use the wrong font in the title of the score - true story!)

But if we go and look a bit beyond the obvious... we see that musicians have actually been leveraging the fact that these two time signatures are similar but different.

If you've been following this newsletter for a while you know that I have little patience for theory that is not useful... I like to 'use' music theory to get ideas for composition, not for armchair music analysis.

By comparing 3/4 and 6/8 not only we get some interesting rhythm... we can see also a few tricks to make 'stale' rhythms sound better (like using polyrhythms... or displacing them!)

So if you have a song that has potential... but it does not have 'groove'... have a look at what I do to these rhythms and you will have some ideas to make that song a crowd pleaser.

If you like this video, share, like, comment & don't forget to subscribe for more content!

FOLLOW ME:

[AlDunbar]

Most of the choral music my choir sings Is in 4/4 and/or 3/4. But some uses 6/8, often in horizontal combination with 3/4 and other signatures, often on a one-off basis.

We are usually lead through the specific rhythms that result from unusual combinations. Over time I have come to understand that 3/4 and 6/8 result in intrinsically different rhythmic patterns, but I found your video to be the best explanation of how this works.

[SirWhiteRabbit-grso]

I was just looking at Bach's Goldberg Variations and he used 12/16 for some of the variations. Wow!

[jamsekun]

In 3:54

3+3 | 2+2+2 sounds like a battle theme or a boss music

[jesusisaliveannie]

Really appreciate the videos you're doing on rhythm. It's something I didn't learn through years of piano lessons. It adds so much flavor to music so I'm learning whatever I can from you, hoping to write better songs.

[raybergstrom]

You've quickly become one of my favorite youtube channels! Thanks for all the cool lessons.

[jdmarino]

As a new bassist (been playing for 2 years), I am finding your videos very instructive. Thanks!

[overtonesnteatime]

I was just thinking last night, about how i missed your videos and they weren’t coming up in my recommendations anymore and then this hehe 🙃 👌 Huge appreciation for your input and perception good sir.

[aylbdrmadison]

Thanks for this one Tommaso. When I was first learning music theory, I admit I spent less time on rhythm than I did with melody and harmony. Even complex rhythms and odd time signatures seemed to come to me naturally. Although I rarely had any complaints, looking back I see how that was a rather grand mistake on my part and I would be a better musician now had I not neglected that aspect as much.

[sergicarnerero]

In flamenco there's a style called bulerías where the hemiola is the basic pattern of rythym and thanks to this video I could finally get it, thanks! Salutes from Barcelona Spain!!!

[samusbros]

Amazing content, i did a song a while ago, and in one part of the song i was at 6/8, i wanted to comeback to 4/4, but i didn't know how without sounding bad or "too fast", so i used some guitar chords on 3/4 while the bass was still in 6/8 and it felt really good, then i was able to change to 4/4 on a badass way, thanks for the explanation!

[jesusisaliveannie]

Thank you so much, you're really helping me understand time signatures! Very much needed in my case. 😄

[sudeephembrom]

Just love your voice when you say helloooo internet

[GetYossedLol]

Been trying to understand this for a while. Good video man, thank you

[jorpese]

Hi! Flamenco uses this "horizontal" hemiola profusively (it is actually compulsory). Bulerias, soleares, guajiras, alegrias and other are in the 3+3+2+2+2. Seguiriyas and other related flamenco forms use the 2+2+2+3+3 pattern. The other thing is that the accents are inverted with respect "normal" music. (always accenting the last beat of each group: 12(3) 12(3) 1(2) 1(2) 1(2), the () meaning accent. The vertical hemiola (polyrhythm) can be found in tanguillos or in tientos flamenco forms (this is more subtle), and gives lots of freedom and possibilities to the guitar and percussion.

[rmazocar]

Props for using Shostakovic in an example. Might be the first time in a guitar channel.

[gjtube]

Thank you for this excellent lesson. You've cleared up a very confusing subject for me.

[epserser]

I just love this subjet and these parallels all fantastic. Thank you so much.

[critical_role_nerd]

I swear you can read minds 😁.. my friend and I just talked about this subject and did not understand what it was about
. Thanks so much..♥️♥️

[dhaneshs]

I was waiting for this one...Thanks Tommaso👍👌

[matiasalaniscaballero]

6:09 that´s the "chacarera" rhythm pattern, a very popular style of folk music from Argentina, used also in Uruguay. Let me tell that it´s not boring at all! Love these vids!! so well explained, Congrats!