Understanding 12/8 Time Signature — Music Theory for the Rest of Us!

For this third installment on my series on time signature, I break down what 12/8 time signature feels like for those of us who don't have advanced degrees in music theory! Learn technical terms like "dreamy" and "swishy" and learn how to spot 12/8 time by singing through two great examples of the time signature—"Perfect" by Ed Sheeran and "O, Holy Night" by Mariah Carey.

RESOURCES

[ThomasDeLello]

In the blues, this is called "Shuffle time". They very often will tie tie the first two triplet eighth notes to create a heart beat effect.

[NeverduskX]

Those counting methods really helped me grasp the beat.

[christinaewing]

Excellent description!! Thank you so much for helping me understand this time signature. I'm playing Gesu Bambino for Christmas in a saxophone trio.

[MooreBass]

Oh yeah, that was good! I was trying to learn Etta Jame's At Last on the bass which 12/8 and I was getting out of time. This really helps! Thanks!

[samuelenochlarbi]

Amazing lesson! You did an amazing work simplifying 12/8 time signature for easy understanding.

[RockStarOscarStern]

The easiest way to think of it would be as a Common Time Signature (4/4 Time) with 8th Note Triplets on each beat. Alan Billingsley did a neat arrangement of "can't help falling in love" which is written in a 12/8 time signature. The tempo says Doo-Wop (feel in 4).

[rafaelgomez]

*** LOVE HOW SIMPLE you EXPLAIN with a RELAXING VOICE TONE you have ..LOVE IT....NEW SUB ...HERE

[narcisosanz]

This is actually so helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

[catherinebergeron]

Awesome tutorial ! This really helped my daughter with her new audition piece that is in 12/8

[markdowling]

Thank you. It was a very helpful presentation. I was having a difficult time understanding how I was going to count to 12 every measure on a song that I was learning. Now, I at least understand how to count and where to place the emphasis.

[lattelover]

Thank you for this video! I recently struggled to transcribe a song I heard on YouTube, for which there is no sheet music. I thought it was in 4/4 time with triplets on each beat -- now I know I should have written it in 12/8 time!!!!

[larryd]

Thank you for explaining 12/8 time signature.

[musicallytallentedsheep]

this was genuinely so helpful, as i needed to use this information for a new series i'm making!

[kdhansome]

Oh wow! I tabbed a song on protocol and logic I am working on in 3/4 time but now I am going to change it cause 12/8 is the the actual pulse of the song. Thx.

[timothygoebel]

‘Sea of love’ oldies song is in this time. Thank you for posting this.

[johndalton]

Great video, thank you. This explains the song titled “The faster we go the rounder we get” commonly known as The Other One by The Grateful Dead

[DomMelano]

Thank you very much; after years of playing blues a musical mystery solved for me!

[m]

Great explanation. First time playing a song on bass with 12/*. VARIATION IN BLUE, Jacob de Hahn. Thank you !!!

[babismousikos]

Excellent explained ! Lot of thanks :)

[sillybunny]

Great description. I would also recommend, "Get Back" by The Beatles to catch the beat...