I’m having a hard time with 6/8 time. I found Norwegian wood, which appears to be in 6/8 time, but the notation in the app is 4/4? I can’t keep time because I look at the song in the app and I never know when to strum. I’ve noticed this in other songs too that appear to be 6/8 but the app (dots and progress fill) are in 4/4.
Help me Obi Wan, you’re my only hope!
I will have to look before I can offer any help but somebody will come along soon if I don’t get back to you cheers Hec
Hi James.
The Strum shows 6/8 in a non-conventional way of counting
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 +
That would more usually be:
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
The App has a count in that is numbered 1 2 3 4 but it is not in 4/4.
The count in shows 1 . . 2 . . 3 . . 4 . .
That is two bars of 6/8 but not counted as sequential bars which would be 1 . . 4 . . 1 . . 4 . . more usually written as
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
I have put 1 and 4 in bold as that is when you strum.
The D chord lasts two bars - the graphic says play on the actual 2 and 4. Then there is a bar split between D and C chords, changing chord for the count of 4 then back again for another full bar of D.
Forgive me here. Let me try and say this back…I am supposed to strum on the 1,2,3,4; or 1…4…1…4 depending on how you visualize it. Okay. But the strum page shows down strums on each count 1,2,3,4,5,6. So if it is actually two bars of 6/8 shouldn’t I be down strumming on each count? Emphasizing 1 and 4 for a total of 12 strums in one line or 6 strums for each bar? (two bars per “line”?)
It seems like one or the other is wrong or I’m missing something.
Strumming on 1 and 4 would be the most basic to start.
Strumming all six counts with a down is good making sure to accent 1 and 4.
More complex is to mix and match some downs - probably not all six - and some ups. Still accenting 1 and 4.
,
okay that makes sense, thank you!
