The 6/8 Strumming Pattern Behind Your Favorite Songs
The 6/8 strumming pattern powers some of the most recognizable songs in guitar history—from “House of the Rising Sun” to “Nothing Else Matters.” While 4/4 time dominates popular music, 6/8 creates that distinctive flowing, waltz-like feel that instantly changes the mood of a song. In this lesson, Justin Sandercoe from JustinGuitar breaks down exactly how to master this essential time signature.
Understanding 6/8 Time
In 6/8 time, you have six beats per measure, and the eighth note gets one beat. This creates two groups of three beats, which gives 6/8 its distinctive feel—”ONE-two-three-FOUR-five-six” with emphasis on beats 1 and 4. Unlike the driving march feel of 4/4, 6/8 flows and sways.
Basic 6/8 Strumming Pattern
Start with all down strums, counting “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6” with accents on 1 and 4:
Beat: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Strum: D D D D D D Accent: > >
This basic pattern establishes the feel, but it’s not the most musical approach for songs.
The Essential Pattern: Missing Beats 2 and 5
The core 6/8 strumming pattern that Justin teaches involves removing beats 2 and 5, creating space and movement:
Beat: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Strum: D D D D
This pattern—counted as “1, 2 and 3, 4, 5 and 6″—is the foundation of most 6/8 songs. The key is maintaining continuous hand motion even when you’re not hitting the strings on beats 2 and 5.
Hand Movement Continuity
Justin’s critical insight: your hand never stops moving. Even when you miss beats 2 and 5, your strumming hand continues its downward and upward arc. This maintains the rhythm’s flow and prevents the mechanical “start-stop” feel that makes beginner strumming sound stiff.
Adding Texture with Up-Strums
Once you have the essential 6/8 strumming pattern down, add up-strums after beat 6 to create more texture:
Beat: 1 2 3 4 5 6 & Strum: D D D D U
This up-strum leads smoothly back into beat 1 of the next measure, creating the characteristic rolling feel of 6/8 time.
Songs That Use This Pattern
The 6/8 strumming pattern appears in countless songs across genres:
- “House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals (classic 6/8 folk)
- “Nothing Else Matters” – Metallica (ballad application)
- “Hallelujah” – Leonard Cohen (modern folk)
- “Norwegian Wood” – The Beatles (subtle 6/8 feel)
Practice Tips
Mastering 6/8 requires feeling the subdivision differently than 4/4. Start by counting “1-2-3-4-5-6” aloud while strumming, emphasizing beats 1 and 4. Use a metronome at 80 BPM and focus on the continuous hand motion before adding complexity.
Video credit: JustinGuitar