6/8 strumming pattern
The most common 6/8 strumming pattern is ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ (down, down, up, down, down, up): six strums per bar, one on each eighth note, counting "1 2 3 4 5 6" with accents on 1 and 4. Two beats split in three: the lilt of slow ballads.
Now C Next Am
6/8- downstroke
- upstroke
- > accent (louder)
Step by step
The whole pattern, with the accents.
In 6/8 the BPM counts the dotted quarter: two clicks per bar.
Chords
Space bar: play/stop
The pattern as a table
| Beat | 1st eighth | 2nd eighth | 3rd eighth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ↓, accent | ↓ | ↑ |
| 2 | ↓, accent | ↓ | ↑ |
How to play it
- Feel two beats per bar (1 and 4), each split in three.
- The upstrokes (on 3 and 6) are light, top strings only, and lead into the next accent.
- Here the BPM counts the dotted quarter: two clicks per bar. On a metronome that counts eighth notes, use three times the number.
Common mistakes
- Playing every strum at the same volume: 6/8 loses its lilt.
- Counting in three (1 2 3, 1 2 3) with an accent on every 1: that is 3/4, the waltz.
Play along
Frequently asked questions
How do you count 6/8?
Count the six eighth notes, "1 2 3 4 5 6", with 1 and 4 louder. At faster tempos, feel just two beats: "1 . . 2 . .".
What is the difference between 6/8 and 3/4?
Both have six eighth notes per bar. In 3/4 they are grouped in twos (three beats: 1 2 3); in 6/8, in threes (two beats: 1 and 4).