Write something in 3/4 or 6/8
Time signatures are not SAID as a fraction even though they are a fraction.
We say "three-four time" or "six-eight time" but it's actually easier to think of them as fractions when trying to apply them in real life. But hold that thought while I explain a few things.
If you've never learned to read music, that is OK! I've thought about putting together a little sheet music boot camp for people. I'll give a little explanation here, but if you don't get it, don't beat yourself up. This kind of language isn't intuitive until you learn to read music. If you like the idea of a bootcamp for reading music, let me know in the comments!
Essentially, each labeled note in above image represents a different amount of time. A whole note takes up the space of four beats. A half note takes up half: two beats. Four quarter notes take up the same amount of space as one whole note. Eighth notes take up half the amount of time as a quarter note, which means eight of them can fit in the space of one whole note.
That is a lot to take in and - honestly - you don't REALLY need to know what these things mean to understand 3/4 and 6/8 time. I just wanted to pique your interest in learning to read music while explaining that the "4" in 3/4 and the "8" in 6/8. You'll see in a minute.
Back to fractions:
Basically, 3/4 time means "three quarters." More specifically, it means "we're using three quarter notes per measure."
For our purposes, it doesn't much matter that they are quarter notes. It's more important that there are three BEATS per measure.
Typically, you count this time signature as "ONE two three ONE two three"
On drums, you'd play something like "KICK snare snare KICK snare snare"
Guitar players often play something like "PICK down down PICK down down" where the pick would land on a low root. Or if you're with a band, the bass player would play on ONE for each measure, like in I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry by Hank Williams
This time signature is most often associated with waltzes, but that doesn't mean everything you write in 3/4 is a waltz. Lorelai by Fleet Foxes is a great example of a very obvious "ONE two three ONE two three" count.
This beautiful rendition of Someday My Prince Will Come by Miles Davis is in 3/4, too.
The idea is that rhythmic figures in 3/4 only last three beats and thats easiest to see in the drums.
----------- Now lets compare 3/4 to 6/8 ------------
6/8 time, or "Six eight" as it is spoken, really translates to "six quarters" or "six quarter notes per measure."
There are a lot of fancy reasons why 6/8 isn't just 6/4 that I honestly don't even know. Maybe it's tradition. But all that really matters here is that there are six BEATS per measure. Here is how it is counted:
"ONE two three FOUR five six ONE two three FOUR five six"
Basically it's two 3/4s in a row. On drums its easier to see the difference:
"KICK hat hat SNARE hat hat KICK hat hat SNARE hat hat"
It's VERY easy to hear this kind of beat in Gravity by John Mayer.
We Are the Champions by Queen has this beat too, most noticeable in the chorus, but with a little more fancy stuff going on.
One of my favorite songs, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel is also in 6/8, though the drum beat is a little more nuanced.
With each of these songs, try counting "ONE two three FOUR five six" and hear how especially ONE and FOUR have different things going on, usually kick on ONE and snare on FOUR, or more generally just two different things going on to create a six beat drum phrase.
I like to imagine that 6/8 is like a stretched out 4/4, were you've just slipped in extra beats.
Here is what I mean:
4/4 beat on drums would look like this:
Kick hat Snare hat Kick hat Snare hat
And if we just sneak in an extra hat every time we have one hat, we get 6/8
KICK hat hat SNARE hat hat KICK hat hat SNARE hat hat
Maybe this is something I can demonstrate more clearly in an upcoming livestream? Let me know in the comments if you'd like that
The reason I included 6/8 or 3/4 is so that you could write something with the general feel of 3 beats per measure or six beats per measure. Whichever one feels right to you.
The other reason I included both time signatures as options is because the lines between them can often get blurred and thats OK while you're learning to write in these time signatures. Just have fun with it.
OK, here are some specific ideas for what you could submit to the community forum:
3/4 ideas
• A chord progression with a simple "down down down" pattern per chord
• A chord progression with a "pick down down" pattern, where each "pick" is on a low root, fifth, or third.
• Write a drum beat with "Kick hat hat" or "kick snare snare" (or something more elaborate) and then add some chords and stuff on top.
6/8 ideas
• Write a chord progression using "DOWN down up down up DOWN down up down up"
• Write a drum part like "Kick hat hat SNARE hat hat" or use ride cymbal for more chill vibes and build out a little chord and melody party on top of that.
JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT! I always look forward to seeing and hearing whatever you write so don't overthink it, don't stress, just write a little blurb of music and post it.