The 6/8 ballad

Six eighth notes, two beats

A bar of 6/8 has six eighth notes, grouped in threes:

1 2 3 4 5 6

You feel two big beats (1 and 4), each split into three. That’s what gives it its lullaby sway. A waltz in 3/4 also has six eighth notes, but grouped in twos: “1 and 2 and 3 and”. Same number of eighth notes, a different pulse.

Tap your foot only on 1 and 4, and count the six eighth notes out loud.

The ballad

Down, down, up, down, down, up: a downstroke on each big beat, a second downstroke, then an upstroke that sets up the next one.

The tempo counts the big beats: 50 to the dotted quarter note is 150 eighth notes a minute. Don’t be put off, your hand moves no faster than in pop.

Play 1 a little louder, 4 a little softer: the bar breathes.

3/4 or 6/8?

Play two bars of waltz, then two bars of 6/8 ballad, on the same chord. In the waltz you feel three steps; in 6/8, two big swaying steps. The 6/8 ballad page has more tips.

Changing chords

Change on the last eighth note, 6, during the upstroke. If the next chord isn’t ready, let the open strings ring on that stroke: the next 1 must land on time.

You’ve got it when…

• You count “1 2 3 4 5 6”, tapping 1 and 4 with your foot
• You hear the difference between a 3/4 waltz and a 6/8 ballad
• You keep the G, Em, C, D progression going in 6/8 for two minutes