What's The Difference Between 3/4 and 6/8?

What’s The Difference Between 3/4 and 6/8?

Just got asked this again, probably the time signature question I hear the most!

3/4 is three groups of two quavers, felt and counted as “1 +, 2 +, 3 +”

6/8 is two groups of three quavers, felt and counted as “1 trip let, 2 trip let”

Mike :)

If you’ve enjoyed these videos, please consider supporting this channel by “buying me a coffee” or becoming a monthly member at:

Monthly members get a complimentary 30 mins Zoom session where we formulate personalized practice plan for you - updated each month as you progress. You also get access to members’ videos, drum support via video response/email, priority video requests - plus you’ll be supporting this channel and helping it to grow, which I’d hugely appreciate.

—

Online drum lessons with Mike via Zoom!

---

Become a monthly supporter of this channel - See members-only videos and get video support from Mike

Become a member of Mike Barnes Drums for £10 per month and you’ll get:

*A customized daily practice plan

*A weekly members-only video

*Drum support from Mike in the form of video responses - Send me your question about drumming, drum grades etc and I'll send you a video response in reply! - up to 2 per month for members.

*Hassle-free access to all my YouTube playlists via one simple list.

*Every new member will also receive a shout-out on my YouTube channel.

I massively appreciate you supporting the channel, and sufficient monthly sign-ups would allow me to further increase the output of the YouTube channel as well as the Instagram/Facebook feeds.

—

Mike’s E-Kit

Drumtec Diabolo kit with Roland snare and cymbals, TD-11 Sound Module

—

Mike Barnes Drums Amazon Shop

I now have an Amazon store featuring all the gear, books etc you see here in these videos, and that I use myself on gigs/in the studio and recommend. It doesn’t cost any more to buy from this store than it does from regular Amazon, but you’d be supporting this channel by doing so, which would be very much appreciated!:

—

Socials

TikTok: Mike Barnes Drums

—

Mike :)

[MikeBarnesDrums]

What’s The Difference Between 3/4 and 6/8?

Just got asked this again, probably the time signature question I hear the most!

3/4 is three groups of two quavers, felt and counted as “1 +, 2 +, 3 +”

6/8 is two groups of three quavers, felt and counted as “1 trip let, 2 trip let”



Mike :)


If you’ve enjoyed these videos, please consider supporting this channel by “buying me a coffee” or becoming a monthly member at:


Monthly members get a complimentary 30 mins Zoom session where we formulate personalized practice plan for you - updated each month as you progress. You also get access to members’ videos, drum support via video response/email, priority video requests - plus you’ll be supporting this channel and helping it to grow, which I’d hugely appreciate.

[donster]

Thanks Mike that’s something I struggled to come to grips with but now it makes a lot more sense to me
Thanks again mate and keep up the great work

[mickw]

Excellently explained as always. Best teacher on the internet by triplets!

[jungmou]

Thanks Mike for the easiest way to understand the difference between two!
Will you make a video for explain and teach us how to distinguish 2/4 and 6/8 at the end you said in this video ?as I am so confused with this problem too, it drive me crazy when I hear the song with this neat accent and can’t analyse, cheers mate:)

[davidchapman]

Thanks for the video Mike, very thorough! One question: you mention in the video that in compound time the quarter notes are split into three eighth notes. Do you mean that's how they 'feel'? My understanding was that in 6/8 you have three quarter notes, so if, for example, you were playing bass drum on quarters these would fall every other eighth note, the same as 3/4. If the bass drum fell on 1 and 4 you would be playing dotted quarters. Is that correct?

[hi]

I think I get it a bit

So basically it is like 3/4 is 3 groups of quarter notes
And 6/8 is like 2 groups of triplets

[evanpoole]

What grade do we start learning to play in 3/4 and 6/8? I’m grade 4 trinity rock and pop atm and have never learnt about this lol. Is it something I should start to play?