How should this rhythm be notated? (syncopated 6/8 bar)
Although it looks like this rhythm would best be notated in 12/16, the drums play a straight 6/8 beat with accents on 3 and 6.
The first option is visually simpler, but it doesn’t represent the beat clearly. The second one would have a tie across two beamed notes of the same value, and I’m not sure which is more appropriate.
(4)4 Comments
Sorted by latest first Latest Oldest Best
Here's my solution:
I don't like writing this in 6/8. 6/8 makes it hard to show the beat division, and 12/8 really shows the beat without weird beaming.
On the contrary, I think the first option does a fine job of representing the two beats, and it's also how I would expect to see those rhythms in band or orchestra music. I would not want to sight read the second example. IMO, the correct notation is always going to be whatever will most easily get your players to perform the way you want.
You needn't show the drum's accent pattern in what (I assume) is a different instrument's music, especially when the accent is on the 3rd and 6th eighth notes of the bar, and your music has no attacks on those divisions of the beat (and therefore nothing to accent -- you wouldn't generally put an accent mark under the second note in a tie).
I would write duples. Sorry I don't have any tool at hand to create an example image, but, using duples, in this case a pair of eighth-notes with a "2" above, you would write
first beat: eighth note, then under the "2", there'll be a "3" to indicate a triplet, consisting of an eighth note and a sixteenth.
Second beat: two eighth notes under the "2" to indicate duplet.
Terms of Use Privacy policy Contact About Cancellation policy © freshhoot.com2026 All Rights reserved.