Does anyone know how to count 6/8?

Question

Does anyone know an easier way to count 6 beats per measure or 6/8 when playing the flute.

Answer 1

6 = six beats in a measure
8 = The eighth note gets one beat

If the song is slow enough (always practice new songs slowly when you are first learning them), count to 6 when you are playing 6/8.

One eighth note or eighth rest gets one beat (or one number).
One quarter note (or rest) gets 2 beats (or two numbers)
One dotted quarter note (or quarter rest and eight rest) gets 3 beats (or 3 numbers)
One dotted half note (or whole rest) gets 6 beats (all 6 numbers)

Pattern you will often see grouped together are
3 eighth notes barred together (1 2 3)
1 quarter note and 1 eighth note (1-2 3)
1 quarter rest and 1 eighth rest (1-2 3)

Some people learn best when they have things written out for them. Once you understand HOW to count in 6/8, write in the numbers above your notes so you can SEE what you should be THINKING inside your head.

Start SLOWLY, making sure that you REALLY are counting inside your head. Clap the rhythms while counting out loud (SLOWLY). Then slowly play them (thinking the counts).

Gradually increase your speed.

When songs go faster (like marches in band), the director will most often CONDUCT in a 2-beat pattern. The first movement of the director's hand includes the first 3 beats (even though the hand only moves once), and the 2nd movement of the hand (moving up) includes beats 4-5-6.

Even when the director is conducting fast, still count in your head 1-2-3 4-5-6. You can THINK those numbers a LOT faster than a condctor can beat all 6 beats (which is why directors direct in 2 when the tempo of the song is fast).

Sometimes you WILL play songs with a very slow beat, and the conductor WILL conduct all 6 beats.

Remember:
1. Start SLOWLY
2. ALWAYS count in your head!
3. NEVER GUESS. Counting/rhythm is math. 2+2 is four...NOT 3.5, 5, 4.25...EXACTLY four. Rhythm in music is EXACT.

Answer 2

AACKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!! 6/8 does NOT mean 'six beats per measure'. It's really TWO beats per measure. You count it like 'One la le Two la le'. 6 beats per measure is 6/4.

Answer 3

See if this site helps. http://pythia.uoregon.edu/~llynch/Tango-L/2003/msg03328.html

I wish I could help more. I dont know western music

Answer 4

ONE two three FOUR five six. (ie. emphasis on 1st and 4th beats).