Metronome in 6/8 time
Free online metronome, preset to 120 BPM and 6 beats a bar — press Start
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4.7 · 16 ratingsHow 6/8 time counts
6/8 has six eighth notes in a bar, grouped in two sets of three: ONE-two-three FOUR-five-six. The metronome above clicks every eighth note and accents beats 1 and 4, so you hear both the six and the two big pulses.
Musicians call this compound duple time: two main beats, each a dotted quarter note that splits into three. That is what separates 6/8 from 3/4, which also has six eighth notes a bar but groups them in three pairs.
The preset clicks eighth notes at 120 BPM, so the dotted-quarter pulse is 40 a minute. For fast music, count it in two instead: on the Pro tab set 2 beats and Subdivision to triplets, and the BPM then counts dotted quarters. Tap a beat dot on the Pro tab to change or mute an accent.
6/8 in numbers
| Clicks per bar | 6 (eighth notes) |
|---|---|
| Accented beats | 1 and 4 |
| Felt pulse | Two dotted quarter notes |
| At 120 BPM (eighths) | 500 ms per click, one bar every 3 seconds |
Lessons on 6/8 time
What musicians say
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sencilla y efectiva
A memtrone that is sooo customixable
Easy to use
Frequently asked questions
- How do I set a metronome for 6/8?
- Set six beats a bar and accent beats 1 and 4 — this page opens that way. For fast music, set two beats with triplet subdivisions on the Pro tab, so each click is a dotted quarter and the ticks between are the eighth notes.
- Is 6/8 counted in 6 or in 2?
- Both are right; it depends on the tempo. Slow 6/8 is usually counted in six eighth notes. At a moderate or fast tempo it is felt in two, one beat per group of three.
- What BPM should I use for 6/8?
- Decide what the click stands for first. Counting eighths, 120 BPM is 40 dotted-quarter beats a minute; counting dotted quarters, set the BPM to the pulse you feel and add triplet subdivisions for the eighths.
- What is the difference between 6/8 and 3/4?
- Both have six eighth notes a bar. 6/8 groups them in two threes (two strong beats), 3/4 in three twos (three quarter-note beats). The accents on this page — 1 and 4 — are what make it sound like 6/8.