The Magic of 6/8 Time

6/8 vs 4/4 vs 3/4 - a time signature comparison.
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muted.io/6-8-time-signature/
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[@maxkonyi]

Be sure to explore the companion page on muted! muted.io/6-8-time-signature/

[@cacarlto]

Wooooah. First time anyone has ever explained the difference in 3/4 and 6/8 to me. I’ve always kinda smooshed them together.

[@sb_dunk]

It's the same thing. I haven't watched this video yet. I'll delete this comment if I have my mind changed.

[@SuperVevev]

@@sb_dunk lol stay uneducated :D

[@l00kns33]

@@sb_dunk I used to think of 6/8 as a double resolution version of 3/4 but I guess it depends on what you do with the pulse/beat. Jumping back and forth between the two in the clip reveals that while the melody stays the same the difference lies in the percussive part.

[@fearmeforiamscary]

@@sb_dunkno it's not. A key signature is not a ratio

[@evanistrans-dimentional2092]

​@@l00kns33yup, cuz you are just accentuating a percussive aspect of the same meter. I feel 3/4 and 6/8 are the same l, Yet can arguably be pointed out as different . just like some say TomAto and some say TomaAAAto.

[@rome8180]

I write way too many songs in 6/8. I think a lot of people associate 6/8 with '50s music. But I actually like it in a more modern rock song context. It can give the song a nice driving energy. Also, it's a way to make your song sound a bit more interesting than standard 4/4 without being actively "weird." It's the second most common meter, so people are used to hearing it. The moment you start writing in 7/4 or something, you're asking people to notice the meter. I'm not opposed to that, but a lot of times I want to disguise the unusual features of my song and make them more accessible, not draw attention to them.

[@maxkonyi]

Agreed! Although, "...too many songs in 6/8." makes no sense to me 🌞

[@brandonmacey964]

3/4 is the second most common key signature I think

[@letesuave9106]

U can write songs in 7/4 without people (and even musicians) noticing it. Im telling by experience. pd: Sorry if my english is bad, not a native speaker here

[@abdulhamid9605]

Damn, 1 minute in and Im subscribed. Brilliant presentation. To the point. No bs, no intro, no wasted time. Keep it up!

[@IRogue]

The companion page is awesome. First minute in I jumped the cheat sheet and circle of fifths and knew I would love this. Thank you for this tool. Hope others appreciate what is sitting here.

[@atanjacket]

Just donated to Seb's website fund via Ko-fi. Thanks for pointing out that website, he is doing some great work.

[@maxkonyi]

Nice one! Yes, he's doing great work indeed.

[@Hessencemusic]

Im really happy every time I find a new video where someone explain some music theory in a so so cool way. Thank you! It’s not easy at all what you did

[@comptvlee]

he strikes again! I think I too easily give up on understanding meter when I try and wrap my mind around it, especially 3/4 vs 6/8. These visual tools are an excellent assistant to start understanding and internalizing these concepts practically. 👏👏👏 THANK YOU

[@Maplefoxx-vl2ew]

3/4 and 6/8 are the exact same timing , as a drummer, this is how we look at timing. it's just fractions , it's not that complicated honestly. you can only add the same amount of 16th notes into those bars. they have the exact same timing. I almost always look at writing midi drums in a 16th note grid on the piano roll. it just makes the most sense to me from a drummer's viewpoint.

[@maxkonyi]

@@Maplefoxx-vl2ew Agreed. The distinction is in feel, not the quantity of divisions. Meter is an interesting topic and there are so many ways to conceptually divide things for various purposes.

[@lowercasepeople49]

Treat the meter the way you would treat speech. When you speak, each word has a syllable that carries the emphasis. We don't think about it too much until someone who is not a native speaker says a word with an alternative emphasis. It is all the same sounds but doesn't sound right.

[@thedolphin5428]

6/8 doesnt HAVE TO HAVE an accented 4th note. That's only a convention from waltz rythym. Try Indian 7/8. Only one beat per bar.

[@maxkonyi]

Agreed. You actually don't need to accent the 1 either. You can create a 6/8 feel (two head bobs per measure with a triplet feel) by using syncopated patterns which are two beats long and made of triplets. The listner will still bob their head on divisions 1 and 4 even if there are no accented notes there. Same goes for all time sigs.

[@SagarBelsare4]

Very informative. Another “super like” for the crisp keyboard tone, the smooth-sailing melody line, and the mind-blowing bends and glides.

[@astrologikalmusic]

thank you so much. this video has me making my first 6/8 song and im already loving its vibe. definitely immediately gave me enough of a boost of understanding to immediately feel confident enough to start a track, and im glad i did. considering donating to your friends awesome website you mentioned. thanks again

[@maxkonyi]

That's great to hear!

[@ryanbartlett672]

Cool. Probably the best illustration of time signatures I have seen. Thanks

[@MenacingSnail]

Concise, clear, calm! A perfect video.

[@patrickm.4469]

Awesome video Max! The visual presentation has been top notch here lately. I'm really excited to use that website for interactive music theory tools, thank you!

[@ricardoesteban8958]

Love the 3/4 cadence

[@kheireddineboot]

Man you are amazing in teaching by showing and feeling where most of us struggle to understand the jargon and even if we think we understand a musical concept we struggle to find the way to explain it to others !!! You are really an inspirattion

[@maxkonyi]

Much appreciated 🙏 So glad it was helpful

[@cinematichormone]

BRO...The only real lesson on these Rhythms

[@chriscumminsmusic4690]

This came at an opportune moment as I was only experimenting with 6/8 the other day for a new track and this is a very useful explanation of the differences - watch out in future challenges to see if it worked for me, Best wishes Chris

[@maxkonyi]

Great to hear Chris!

[@mikeadenff]

Thanks. This was so well presented! I love the sequencer tool on web site. I don't play an instrument, but am interested in composition. The tool allowed me to sketch out harmonic ideas really quickly.

[@benjaminlawson6390]

This guy is just too knowledgeable. I am really glad I found you ! Thank you for this informative video !

[@ELLIOT8209]

I've been with him for a while now. I'm levelling up in an amazing way. God bless him 🙏🙏👌👌👌❤

[@gimmebeat]

Website looks amazing and great tools! Good job!!

[@austinsatterfield6792]

If you like 6/8 look into 12/8, very fun!😊

[@merrittshaw9533]

Slap a purdie shuffle on there and you got a stew goin

[@vegadeth]

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

[@christianhlie]

Great tool and video Max. Interesting stuff.

[@Sean____.]

“Twisting and turning you’re breaking the girl”

[@systemofapawn]

So useful in such a short video. Subscribed

[@MaddieGraffeo]

I sure do love me some polyrhythms. I find this to be a great visual aid to understand this concept.

[@instantjollof]

Great video - getting me back into music theory in my attempt to be able to teach my little ones! Also great background, love the out of focus lights!

[@maxkonyi]

Nice! Exciting 🌞

[@MatteoKysely]

Really well put together!

[@oOWiTyOo]

Awesome explanation!

[@andrepazmusica]

Nice. And the song would sound awesome changing the signature between 6/8 and 3/4...

[@maxkonyi]

Agreed!

[@DelmaRaySmithJr]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@falst573]

I love these visualization tools

[@alexalani10101]

Came for the theory, stayed for the experiment (groovy tunes) 🎶🎹

[@FrioVentus]

Best music channel on youtube.

[@tommayo3212]

This is great, thanks!

[@richardnixon5068]

Hey man! I Wonderful illustrations to time signatures. Thank you

[@rudmun]

great stuff, thanks.

[@user-bd6yi5gj9o]

gringos trying to explain rythm give me life

[@maxkonyi]

Happy to supply life!

[@samusofthe9th789]

It's so funny this comes up after I do a 6/8 jam with a drummer friend

[@mimisaiko]

Great video, thanks

[@JuniperCo]

That’s great help 🎵🙏🏽 cheers 😊

[@cinematichormone]

Thankyou so much bro

[@GLDNSCTN]

Rad! Thanks!🙏🏿

[@aldocero8959]

You are the man!

[@roisaliva2723]

All 3 versions are similar yet different, same song used in different situations

[@IbOdd]

Randomly started making a 6/8 song last week and then this video releases.

[@BenCaesar]

Talk about timing !

[@isaachanson9347]

So cool!

[@ryxsenl3018]

Thanks for video (:

[@tunesofeleven]

Crazyyyy good!

[@slamduncan4794]

I'm over here just trying to eat my breakfast with Max's eyes staring directly into my soul.

[@truth_beauty_love]

lol he do dat 😂💛

[@vitaminfian]

Nice one

[@davyt5183]

Thanks, going to buy your desktop app. Any chance you will also make it available for smartphone/tablet?

[@maxkonyi]

To be clear - it is not my app. Muted is not my site, I'm just writing these articles and creating my own tools to accompany them. I don't know if he has any plans to make a phone/tablet version!

[@truth_beauty_love]

Ahh now I understand! 😆💋 This video is beautiful, helpful and perfect like you bb 💞 Thank you

[@maxkonyi]

🙏💗🌞💗🙏 Hooray!

[@Gazeld]

​@@maxkonyiyou just replied to a bit 😁

[@maxkonyi]

@@Gazeld That's my wife 🌞

[@monkeybusiness673]

I hear polyrhythm, I smash like! The 2 vs 3 is porbably my favourite; and expanded by a 6/8 rhythm it sounds fantastic! EDIT: Also, that polyrhythm tool is fantastic. is it included somewhere in the tool box or app?

[@maxkonyi]

Glad you like it! No, this tool is not available in the standard muted tools or desktop app, just on that page for now.

[@monkeybusiness673]

@@maxkonyi That's a shame. I know how to write down the rhythms and count out the composite, but it's so tedious ^^ Great video, though!

[@rukudzolyd]

that 3/4 slaps

[@John-boy]

It’s a pity the muted io app is not available for iPad - my preferred companion for digital piano. Any plans to do this?

[@maxkonyi]

I'm not sure! I'll forward your request to Seb next time we chat.

[@SebasWsuit]

Could you please explain to me how to do you make those graphics animations??

[@maxkonyi]

It's using an app called Rive!

[@danielwetzel7777]

Neat tool y’all

[@nkonyi]

interesting video. i wonder if it could be divided into two groups of three?

[@maxkonyi]

yes my bro

[@MatthewSwasta]

one-dee-da, two-dee-da... what happens if you half the tempo of 6/8 and run it parallel with 3/4? Is it a poly meter?

[@maxkonyi]

That could be a fun tool to make as well!

[@pkliskiki1800]

where can we listen to the full fun song

[@maxkonyi]

I just made these few bars as an example for this video. No full song!

[@pacmanbiohazard]

I can only describe finding your channel as luck. Your work is tremendous and very well explained. I hope this channel pops off on the algorithm, very well deserving of so.

[@maxkonyi]

Thank you!

[@WinItReigns]

6/8 STARS😊 wait, Ive awarded 2 additiional star. For you and those regal frames. Bravo My Dude

[@maxkonyi]

Thanks! 🌞

[@Maplefoxx-vl2ew]

the easiest song for ppl to learn a 3 against 4 polyrhythm is Radiohead - Daydreaming. it's literally the best song for this kinda thing.

[@beemaaa5922]

daydreaming is a 2 against 3 polyrythm

[@maxkonyi]

This is true!

[@KhaledAlmunla]

subbed

[@funkways]

Cool! Could you add a 9/8 into the orbital tool or is that redundant?

[@maxkonyi]

You certainly could! It would be interesting to have a massive version of this with divisions going from 1 up to 9...

[@peterkoval]

i don't get the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 time. fractionally they should be equal?

[@maxkonyi]

Fractionally yes, but not in terms of feel and that's the point. Check out the companion page listed in the description and compare the examples there with the counting turned on to get a better sense of it.

[@dhpbear2]

I can't help but hear it as a 'faster' 3/4 time.

[@maxkonyi]

Well remember that the difference is: in 3/4, you nod your head three times per measure, while in 6/8 it is two times per measure.

[@chantguitare6007]

Great ! Thank you very much ! 🤩🎶🎶🎶

[@karthiksathian2931]

could you think of 6/8 just as 2 groups of triplets inside a bar of 2/4?

[@maxkonyi]

Indeed! The 6/8 notation just prevents having to notate or think about constant triplets.

[@karthiksathian2931]

@@maxkonyi thank you so much for clarifying something that's bugged me for years. Subbed!

[@timowijngaarden6944]

You should check out Can I Call You Rose by Thee Sacred Souls. It’s a beauty of a song

[@maxkonyi]

Will do!

[@benjaminslayton9362]

Could you not transpose the 6/8 into 4/4 and have it sound the same, it would just be very hard to read… or is that wrong thinking?

[@maxkonyi]

Absolutely! 6/8 grooves can also be thought of as slow 4/4 with triplets. The benefit of 6/8 notation allows you to avoid writing constant triplets. Also, the 4/4 would be more like 12/8 as opposed to 6/8.

[@ELLIOT8209]

Hey Max, I see the app goes for $12. Is it a monthly payment or a once off to use the app?

[@maxkonyi]

The website has all the tools and is free. The desktop app (which I'm not affiliated with, to be clear) is a one time purchase to have the tools available outside the browser.

[@BsktImp]

Interesting. I was taught to feel and count 6/8 as two beats per bar only (albeit with divisions of 3) and definitiely never ever to count as 6 unless very slow tempo. Anyone else?

[@infinitefretboard]

Me too. They call it Compound Duple meter.

[@maxkonyi]

Yup. I'm just articulating the other divisions for sake of being clear on the triplet/compound feel.

[@BsktImp]

@@maxkonyi Understood 👍

[@hip-hoprapstorage4440]

8/6 ks great too

[@maximmm5462]

Make some 7 time signature material please

[@maxkonyi]

Coming soon...

[@LuisGama-ls4ne]

What a app name? Please!!

[@maxkonyi]

It's not an app but if you go to the muted.io link in the description, you can play around with the circle and all the other tools on the website. There is also a desktop app version of the muted tools but it doesn't include the circle.

[@demetrius.jordan]

how do i access the 6/8 app? i paid the 12 dollars but I don't see it anywhere?? did you scam me lol

[@maxkonyi]

As I mention in the video, the companion page which contains this 6/8 stuff is linked in the description. It, and the the whole website, including all the tools, is free! The desktop app allows you to use the most popular tools from muted without a browser, opening them one at a time as you wish. However, it does not include this polyrhythm tool. This circle tool is something I made specifically for my page on 6/8. Sorry to be confusing!

[@violinkan2850]

bro if your friend need ideas for useful resources for string players or spanish translation hit me up x'd

[@alfieholloway]

Why not show 3/4 and 6/8 back to back? This would have been more helpful than 20 seconds of 3/4. Grateful for the video though

[@maxkonyi]

I wanted to keep the video succinct as possible because people can explore and compare these examples, with and without counting, on the website to their heart's content!

[@MYGAS21]

On the topic of the difference between 3/4 and 6/8, ....I thought that the difference beside the tempo, is that in 6/8 the 1 downbeat and the 4 downbeat have a different dynamic. So if we wanted to really compare the two, in my opinion, it would be more interesting to take the tempo difference out of it and compare a 3/4 with a 6/4.

[@maxkonyi]

Well 6/4 is different again. In that case, you have six felt beats before restarting the metric pattern or phrase. The tempo of the 6/8 and 3/4 examples is actually the same in this video. The 4/4 is a faster tempo in order to take the same amount of absolute time (two seconds), which makes the melody and everything else feel roughly the same.

[@MYGAS21]

@@maxkonyi Oh right. You double the beats and half their time. My mistake. But what about the dynamics I talked about?

[@maxkonyi]

@@MYGAS21 The 1 in any time sig will generally be more strongly accented since it is the beginning of the metric pattern. This is true of 4/4, 3/4, and the rest. Is there more to the question that I'm not understanding?

[@MYGAS21]

@@maxkonyi Emphasis on "Generally".... Anyway...my point was that the video AND online site tools fail to show the difference in dynamics. The meter has more beats yes, but without dynamics the actual rhythm by its' self with no other elements melodic or rhythmic, is exactly the same. No?

[@maxkonyi]

@@MYGAS21 Ah I get you. Yes! In both cases there are six 8th notes in a measure. Without any kind of accenting, you wouldn't know what the feel should be. That's why I emphasized the accents in my counting animations with orange colour and larger numbers.

[@GooZe...]

Ah yes. Gimme wisdom.

[@blibliobli7275]

i dont hear 6/8 in the first example. I hear a 2/4 slow.

[@maxkonyi]

Yup. 6/8 is the same as a slow 2/4 with triplets, there is no difference. Notating in 6/8 just prevents having to continuously notate/think in triplets.

[@sequentia2]

🙋🏻‍♂️🇲🇽

[@nvdawahyaify]

No matter how many times i try, i can't hear 6/8 as any different than 3/4. It just sounds like 3/4 played twice as fast. Instead of my ears hearing 123-456 in one bar, it sounds like 123-123 played at twice the speed.

[@maxkonyi]

Well counting it as "1-2-3-1-2-3" is fine so long as you're feeling the beat as being on the 1 of each "bar" as opposed to on 1, 2 and 3. That is the key difference. Two bars of 3/4 will have six head bobs, whereas one bar of 6/8 will have two.

[@nvdawahyaify]

@@maxkonyi with all the songs I've listened to in 3/4 it always sounds like the pulse is on the 1 of each bar. The 2 and 3 always sound less emphasized. Like ONE, two, three. I've always had trouble understanding the difference, because I was taught that the emphasis in 3/4 is always on the one of the bar. So it causes 6/8 and 3/4 to sound the same. If there is something that would make the difference make sense, I would really like to know. I may just be missing some piece of information that makes it click.

[@pindebraende]

​​@@nvdawahyaify I think the key is in the other beats where the head doesn't bob, so where a snare drum would usually go. Idk if I can explain it but, to me, 3/4 time means the one is accented (kick) and the two and three are equally emphasized, and then it repeats. Whereas 6/8 time means there's a downbeat (kick) on the one, then the two and three, then an upbeat (snare!) on the four followed by the five and six before it starts over. does that make sense? So there's double the amount of hits before the same exact pattern repeats.

[@lpaez]

Shuffle.

[@dyllanusher1379]

Meshuggah qp

[@dyllanusher1379]

Approves*

[@tuttosalve8352]

Meshuggah quarter pounder

[@dyllanusher1379]

@@tuttosalve8352 lol

[@runnerkidal]

Nooooooo 3/4, 6/8, 4/4 are allll the sameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee They aren’t different at alllllll just purely for notation……….. /s

[@tsunami979]

Aren’t those triplets?

[@maxkonyi]

Essentially, yes. As I mention, compound time signatures have beats divided into groups of three, which would otherwise be called triplets in something like 4/4. So the 6/8 vibe is the same as a slow 4/4 with continuous triplets, or more properly a slow 2/4. From a notation perspective, using 6/8 allows you to write with normal 8th notes instead of having to notate continuous triplets.

[@blibliobli7275]

i dont hear 6/8. hear a 4/4 slow.

[@roboterror6366]

just. count.

[@pigma15]

6/8 can have 3 head nods as well, just like 12/16 can. It depends where You put notes and accents in those measures.

[@maxkonyi]

If you're feeling 6/8 as having three beats in a bar, why are you not calling it 3/4? To be clear, I don't care much about the labels beyond needing to notate things or communicate with others. In the end, the feeling is what it is and the numerical representation is just that!

[@peterscottaotunes]

Thats nice video bro but you are mixing polymeters and polyrhytms.

[@maxkonyi]

How so? Only one meter is ever experiened at a time in my perception.

[@peterscottaotunes]

@@maxkonyi You should focus on polyrhythms excusively instead of showing polymeter than giving and example of polyrhytms. A polyrhythm is one length of time, usually a bar, divided in two different ways. So the notes won't have the same length in the two rhythms. A polymeter is two rhythms built around the same type of notes, but the total length of the two rhythms are different.

[@thejollyjoker187]

OR, you can say "waltz" and everyone gets it..

[@maxkonyi]

Potentially true although I think people associate a waltz-feel with more than just the time signature...

[@thejollyjoker187]

@@maxkonyi Of course! Everything is more than just the time signature. That's why time signature has lower utility factor than the "feel".

[@RedPianist]

great video! however I start cringing every time you start counting. dial this back

[@maxkonyi]

lol I'm not one for counting, generally speaking, but I many beginners find it very helpful, so here it is!