How to Count 6/8 Time on Piano Using Arpeggios (Part 1)
To feel 6/8 on piano, add the octave to a triad to make a four-note arpeggio, play it up and down so it cycles every six notes, and count those six either as two groups of three (a triplet feel) or as three groups of two (eighth notes in 3/4).
Key points
- Add the root an octave higher with your pinky to turn a triad into a four-note arpeggio that cycles every six notes.
- Play the pattern from the bottom or the top; starting high makes the top note sound like a melody.
- Sustain the first note of each six-note group.
- Count six as two groups of three (triplet feel) or as three groups of two (eighth notes in 3/4, accenting every other note).
- Keep the left hand simple: held roots, root and octave, or a slow arpeggio.
This lesson from Jason Zac of Nathaniel School of Music shows you how to feel and count a six-beat cycle, the 6/8 feel, using simple arpeggio patterns on the piano. It suits beginners who know basic triads and want a rock-solid sense of 6/8. The same ideas work on other instruments or when programming in recording software.
The chord progression
Everything is played over four chords that give a brave, epic sound. They all belong to the D Dorian scale:
- D minor: D F A
- F major: F A C
- C major: C E G
- G major: G B D
The first chord is minor and the other three are major. Get comfortable playing them before adding rhythm.
Building the six-note right-hand pattern
Take the bottom note of the triad and copy it an octave higher, ideally with your pinky. D minor becomes D F A D. Now play the four notes up and back down: D F A D A F. The cycle takes six notes before it starts again, so it naturally falls into a six feel.
You can also start from the top note: D A F D F A. When you start high, the top note becomes the melody your ear follows.
Sustain the first note
Hold the first note of each six-note group, whichever finger plays it, until the whole group finishes. If that is hard at first, hold it with your other hand until it becomes natural. Singing the pattern helps train your ear.
Moving through the chords
Choose voicings that keep your hand close and share common notes. Play F major as C F A C, since F and A are shared with D minor. Your thumb is already on C, so C major becomes C E G C by moving your other fingers down. Then move up a little to G major, G B D G.
Two ways to count the six
1. Triplet feel
Count the six notes as two groups of three, so each beat is divided by three. This feels a little lazier, with your head nodding on each group of three. Played faster, you may feel the pulse divided by six instead. How you count depends on the pulse you feel.
2. Eighth notes in 3/4
Now treat the same six notes as three groups of two, in a three-beats-per-bar feel. The pitch direction naturally pushes you towards groups of three, so defy it with volume: press harder on every alternate note. Count 1 and 2 and 3 and. This sounds busier. Once comfortable, you can rearrange the arpeggio notes into your own patterns.
Left-hand options
For the triplet feel, try these in order:
- Hold the root of each chord (D, F, C, G) for the full six, as octaves for a grander sound or as single notes.
- Alternate root and octave every three sub-beats. If the octave crowds your right hand, use the fifth or the third instead.
- Play a slow arpeggio, one note per three: root, fifth, third, fifth (D A F A for D minor). Stretch each chord over two cycles of six, twelve notes in all, so the left hand can finish.
For the 3/4 feel, play one left-hand note for every two right-hand notes: alternate root and octave, or play a slow arpeggio of low note, high note, middle note. If both hands feel too much, simply hold the roots.
How to practise
Start with D minor alone, going up from the bottom and then down from the top, sustaining the first note. Add the left hand with held roots, then move through all four chords. When the triplet feel is secure, switch to accenting every other note and counting in three. Part 2 explores accents and odd groupings further.
Questions about this lesson
Is 6/8 counted in six or in three?
You can feel the six-note cycle either way. Grouping it as two sets of three gives a triplet feel, while grouping it as three sets of two with accents on every other note gives a 3/4 feel with eighth notes.
What right-hand pattern gives a 6/8 feel?
Play the triad plus the root an octave higher, such as D F A D, then come back down: D F A D A F. The six notes repeat in a natural six feel.
What should the left hand play in 6/8?
Begin by holding the chord root, often as an octave, for the whole six. Then try alternating root and octave every three notes, or a slow arpeggio of root, fifth, third, fifth spread over two cycles.
Which chords are used in this lesson?
D minor, F major, C major and G major, which all belong to the D Dorian scale. F is voiced as C F A C to stay close to D minor.
Practise it
- Rhythm TeacherBuild accent patterns, divide beats and explore odd metres and polyrhythms.
- Groove MetronomeWork with tempo, accents and polyrhythms instead of a single unchanging click.
- Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
- All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.
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