6/8 time

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6/8 time is a time signature in Western musical notation which dictates that each bar must consist of six quarter, or eighth-note, beats. This time signature is not to be confused with the 12/8 signature.

[edit] Accentuation in Western Music

In all Western music (whatever the time signature), certain beats of each bar are inherently accented (played slightly louder) by the performer. In 6/8 the accented beats are usually the 1st and the 4th, or else the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th (most commonly in jazz, rock and country).

Music can also be performed in 6/8 with a two-beat triplet feel (where the 1st and 4th beats act as beats 1 and 2).

The notes are grouped in two dotted crotchets per bar.

[edit] Examples of songs performed in 6/8 time

• "Kiss From A Rose" (Seal)
• "Showtime" (Nelly Furtado)
• "A Winter's Tale" (Queen)
• "I'm in Love with My Car" (Queen)
• "Somebody to Love" (Queen)
• "We Are the Champions" (Queen)
• "Never Tear Us Apart" (INXS)
• "All Blues" (Miles Davis)
• "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles)
• "Crazy" (written by Willie Nelson, also recorded and made famous by Patsy Cline)
• "In My Room" (The Beach Boys)
• "Yer Blues" (The Beatles)
• "The House of the Rising Sun" (traditional)
• "The Stone" (Dave Matthews Band)
• "Drive You Home" (Garbage)
• "London You're a Lady" (The Pogues)
• "Color My World" (Chicago) (12/8 with a 6/8 feel)
• "Without You" (Silverchair)
• "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" (Bob Dylan)
• "15 Minutes" (The Strokes)
• "From the Inside" (Linkin Park)
• "Bank Job" (Barenaked Ladies)
• "Thanks That was Fun" (Barenaked Ladies)
• "The Flag" (BNL)
• "Breaking The Girl" (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• "Henry Lee" (Nick Cave & PJ Harvey)
• "Shiver" (Coldplay)
• "Nothing Else Matters" (Metallica)
• "Believe" (Disturbed)
• "Falling Down" (Muse)
• "Piano Man" (Billy Joel)
• "The Kill" (30 Seconds to Mars)
• "My Name is Jonas" (Weezer)
• "Running Away" (Hoobastank)
• "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" (The Beatles)
• "Grace" (Jeff Buckley)
• "Gone" (Ben Folds)
• "Texas Flood" (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
• "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" (Pearl Jam)
• "Spaceship" (Kanye West)
• "Drunk and Hot Girls" (Kanye West)
• "Selfless, Cold, and Composed" (Ben Folds)
• "Night Prowler" (AC/DC)
• "You" (Radiohead)
• "Junk" (Paul McCartney)
• "Nude" (Radiohead)
• "False Advertising" (Bright Eyes)
• "Held" (Natalie Grant)
• "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" (Elton John)
• "Blue Eyes" (Elton John) (12/8 with a 6/8 feel)

[edit] See also

Time signature