What is the difference between Three Four and Six Eight?

Three four and six eight are confusing!

Many people ask what the difference is between three four and six eight. And it’s a really good question. After all they are mathematically identical. So what’s the point of them? Why do they both exist? How do I know if it is one or the other? Do I need to know? Do I care?  Why am I here? and what’s the meaning of life?

They are all valid questions and this article (and video below) will tackle all of them except the meaning of life – sorry but this is a drum website.

Ok so we’re talking time signatures and as you might know the time signature has two numbers. The top number tells us how many beats are in the bar. The bottom number tells us the note value of those beats. Therefore the top number could, in theory, be anything. However the bottom number will always represent quarter notes, eighth notes or sixteenth notes, and will therefore be a four, eight or sixteen.

So in the most common time signature, four four, the top four tells us there are four beats in the bar and the bottom four tells us that those beats are quarter notes which last for one beat each. So there are four whole beats in a bar.

Let’s apply that to three four and six eight

In six eight we have a six at the top and an eight at the bottom. Therefore there are six eighth notes in a bar. Remember that eighth notes last for half a beat so six half beats (eighth notes) add up to three whole beats (quarter notes).

In three four we have a three at the top and a four at the bottom which indicates three quarter notes in a bar.

So can you see that six eighth (half) notes adds up to the same value as three quarter (whole) notes? It’s basic fractions once you get the meaning of the two numbers. Six halves equal the same as three wholes.

And this is why people get so confused about three four and six eight time signatures. So why are they different I hear you screaming at your screen! It’s simply down to phrasing. Some pieces of music will be phrased such that they are felt as two groups of three – that would be six eight. Another piece might be phrased as three groups of two – that would be three four.

It really is that simple but to fully understand it watch the video below. Here the concept is explained again but you will also hear audio examples so that you can hear the difference.

And if you want to try playing in three four or six eight, browse the lessons on this website such as the three four playlong, three four drum beat, six eight Afro Cuban lesson, or six eight Afro Cuban playalong. Alternatively use the search feature in the side bar for more.

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We all want faster hands on the drums but so many drummers I see are missing the basic aspects of drumming that will take them to the next level.

Many of those drummers are not lazy. In fact it’s the opposite. They are putting in the work but they are missing the fundamental techniques that will allow them to play faster and smoother. This leads to inevitable frustration and despondency.

In effect they are wasting their time!

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It will show you:

1. The fundamental techniques to play at your best level
2. How to properly grip the sticks
3. How to prepare yourself properly to drum
4. How to make the stick do the work so you don’t have to
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6. How to apply this around the kit
7. Exercises to develop control as well as speed
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Watch the video to get a feel for what the seven day course entails and then scroll down to get the course immediately.

Start today and build your hand speed up

So let’s start the course today. Do it now and begin your 7 day process to get faster hands. This time next week you’ll be enjoying the results and thinking about how you can take it to the next stage (by the way, the course helps with that too as we’ll be checking speed progress over the next 12 months).

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