3/8, 6/8, and 9/8 Time Signatures

Published by admin on March 27, 2022March 27, 2022

Thus far we have covered rhythm in time signatures with a 4 on the bottom. Now we will look at time signatures where an 8th note gets the beat.

Up until now we have counted time signatures in simple time. Simple time means the top number is 2, 3 or 4.

Compound time is when a time signature has a multiple of 3 at the top. 6/8 and 9/8 are compound time signatures that we will be looking at in this lesson.

3/8 Time Signatures

These time signatures have 3 beats, and each beat is an 8th note. Like 3/4 time, the first beat is emphasized.

This is how the beats look in 3/8 time.

A common rhythm in 3/8 time (also in 6/8 and 9/8 time) is a quarter note and eighth note.

Another common rhythm in 3/8 time is the dotted quarter note. It fills one measure since it lasts for three 8th notes.

The 3/8 time signature is a simple time signature since the top number is not a multiple of 3. The next two time signatures are compound time signatures.

6/8 Time Signatures

The 6/8 time signature is a compound time signature since the top number is a multiple of 3.

It is a compound time signature also because every 3rd beat is emphasized. This divides the meter into 3. Every 1st and 4th beat is emphasized.

Each measure has 6 beats and each beat is an eighth note. This is how the beats look in 6/8 time:

A common rhythm also in 6/8 time is a quarter note and eighth note.

Dotted quarter notes are also common. We can fit 2 in one measure:

One measure consists of 6 eighth notes. A dotted half note lasts as long as 6 eighth notes. We can use a single dotted half note to fill one measure:

9/8 Time Signatures

This is also a compound time signature, since 9 is a multiple of 3. Like 6/8 time, every 3rd beat is emphasized. In this case, the 1st, 4th, and 7th beats are emphasized.

The 9/8 time has 3 more beats than 6/8. Every beat is an 8th note:

We also can use the common rhythm of quarter note and 8th note:

We can also fit 3 dotted quarter notes in one measure:

If 9 eighth notes make one measure, how do we write a note that fills one measure? The measure lasts for nine 8th notes. A whole note and eighth note last the duration of 9 eighth notes, but tying them together is incorrect.

We need to show to division of beats and the best way is to group the beats into 3s or 6s. This helps show the strong beats in 9/8 time:

Practice

Download the worksheet on 3/8, 6/8, and 9/8, Time Signatures: