Piano man 6/8 or 3/4 time?

[Cecil6243]

I've seen some say Piano man by Bill Joel in 3/4 time when I think it's actually in 6/8 time? Why is that?

And this is in reference to playing it on guitar of course.

[1neeto]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

I've seen some say Piano man by Bill Joel in 3/4 time when I think it's actually in 6/8 time? Why is that?

And this is in reference to playing it on guitar of course.

3/4 no doubt.

[Silly Moustache]

As an old |"usetabe" drummer, I'd play 3/4 for the intro, and 6/8 for the verses.

[Neal Pert]

According the official tab on Ultimate Guitar and the sheet music available online, it's in 3/4. But, I mean, it could be counted either way.

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

I've seen some say Piano man by Bill Joel in 3/4 time when I think it's actually in 6/8 time? Why is that?

And this is in reference to playing it on guitar of course.

It makes no difference what instrument you're going to play it on UNLESS you change the basic arrangement.

The intro is listed as being in 4/4, and the rest of the song is in 3/4.

Just google the sheet music.

Regards,
Howard Emerson

[ljguitar]

Hi all

I hear the entire song as 12/8…which is 4 beat phrasing as opposed to 2 beats of 6/8 time or singles of rapid 3/4.

[EDIT]I just pulled up the 1973 recording, and the lyric phrases are in sets of 4 eighth-note triplets. So as a singer I either feel it as 4/4 with triplets or 12/8 time.[EDIT]

[Cecil6243]

Originally Posted by 1neeto

3/4 no doubt.

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

As an old |"usetabe" drummer, I'd play 3/4 for the intro, and 6/8 for the verses.

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

It makes no difference what instrument you're going to play it on UNLESS you change the basic arrangement.

The intro is listed as being in 4/4, and the rest of the song is in 3/4.

Just google the sheet music.

Regards,
Howard Emerson

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi all

I hear the entire song as 12/8…which is 4 beat phrasing as opposed to 2 beats of 6/8 time or singles of rapid 3/4.

[EDIT]I just pulled up the 1973 recording, and the lyric phrases are in sets of 4 eighth-note triplets. So as a singer I either feel it as 4/4 with triplets or 12/8 time.[EDIT]

[Neal Pert]

The thing is: It doesn't matter. It's not like you're going to PLAY it differently, is it? If not, it's the same number of eighth notes per measure. It's not like you're playing a Bembé underneath it or anything.

BTW, I'm a professional drummer who's done thousands of gigs, most of them reading sheet music. Usually a 3/4 will feel like a waltz (oom-pah-pah) and 6/8 will feel like have a back beat on the "4" of the six (Boom-dut-dut- BAP dut-dut).

[1neeto]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

Right? [emoji1787]

[jklotz]

According to this guy, who I thought did as good a job with it as I've ever heard, it's in 3/4

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

Too funny. I was scratching my head too....

[JohnW63]

It's always felt waltzy to me, so I think of it as 3/4 time.

[capefisherman]

It is definitely in 3/4, although I agree with the above re: 12/8 that implies slight accents on beat 1, 4, 7, 10. In most cases, anything that specifies 6/8 is meant to be faster than 3/4. Think traditional Irish music: waltzes in 3/4, jigs in 6/8. Usually ;~)

[Cecil6243]

I just want everyone to know I really appreciate the responses and don't disagree with anyone. Just had a little fun with it.

[Brent Hahn]

If I'm writing out a band chart -- melody & chords but no words -- I'll weigh which way of doing it will be more followable, versus which way might make it possible to get all of it on one page. This one, I'd probably go 6/8 but it could work either way.