6/8 strumming pattern
Songs in 6/8 feel like two big beats per bar, each split into three. The rocking feel suits ballads and slow folk songs.
Live: D, G, A, Bm in the 6/8 style. Slow it to 0.5× to follow the hand.
How to count it
↓·↑↓·↑
Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 with accents on 1 and 4. A simple pattern is down on 1, up on 3, down on 4, up on 6.
Meter 6/8, typical tempo around 60 BPM
Tips
- Tap your foot on 1 and 4 only.
- Let the accent on 1 be clearly stronger than 4.
- Try fingerpicking the same rhythm: bass on 1 and 4, treble strings in between.
Use this pattern on your own song
Paste or snap any chord sheet, pick “6/8” as the style, and the hands play your song with it.
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