Hear two groups of three eighths or three groups of two.
Both examples contain six even eighth notes. Listen for the stronger attacks: 6/8 groups them 3 + 3, while 3/4 groups them 2 + 2 + 2. Count the groups rather than the individual notes.
Three groups of two (3/4)
Listen to six equal eighth notes. Accents every three eighths create two larger beats; accents every two eighths create three larger beats.
The stronger attacks fall every two eighth notes: ONE and TWO and THREE and. These are three quarter-note beats in 3/4.
Two groups of three (6/8)
Compare 3 + 3 with 2 + 2 + 2. The eighth-note spacing stays the same while the number of larger beats changes.
The stronger attacks fall every three eighth notes: ONE two three FOUR five six. These are two dotted-quarter beats in 6/8.
Blocks show durations in quarter-note units. R marks a rest; > marks an accented attack. Numbers below each bar are quarter-note positions, which differ from the main beat in 6/8.
Check the idea: Duple refers to groups of two beats; triple refers to groups of three.
Say “ONE la li TWO la li” for 6/8 or “ONE and TWO and THREE and” for 3/4 before choosing.
Classify each accent cycle from more than one repetition. Do not infer grouping from how many seconds the excerpt lasts.
Count the accent cycle in two new excerpts without carrying the previous grouping forward.
Each session starts with two guided questions, then your chosen practice set, followed by two new questions at a different tempo. First answers, same-question retries, and the final check have separate results.
Begin this lesson80 quarter-note BPM · 3/4 · With guidance
Two groups of three (6/8), Three groups of two (3/4)
Practice this level100 quarter-note BPM · 6/8 · Fewer hints
Two groups of three (6/8), Three groups of two (3/4)
Practice this level120 quarter-note BPM · 6/8 · Fewer hints
Two groups of three (6/8), Three groups of two (3/4)
Practice this levelThe teacher pack includes 10 fixed questions, replay controls, a student sheet, and a separate answer key. The printed key and downloaded JSON use the same questions.
Original synthesized audio · A4 = 440 Hz · mono, 48 kHz WAV.
These references explain the underlying definitions. The examples and practice sequences here are generated for Earstep.