Lesson 13: Rocking in 6/8

Week 13 of 24

Goal: You play the rocking 6/8 time and accompany a lantern song.

Review

C – Am – F – G7 round and round, with your favourite strum.

Step by step

  1. In 6/8 you count to six: “one, two, three, four, five, six”. It feels like two big rocking movements.
  2. The “Rocking (6/8)” pattern: down … up, down … up. One and four are the main beats.
  3. Rock gently as you play – like a boat on the waves. Then the feeling comes by itself.
  4. Practise first in Rhythm with C, then in the song. “Stille Nacht” is also a 6/8 song – played very calmly.

Time to make music: your piece

“Ich geh mit meiner Laterne” with C and G7 in rocking time. For quiet moments: “Stille Nacht” with C, G7 and F.

Practise rhythm Pattern: Rocking (6/8)

Ich geh mit meiner Laterne

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht

Homework for next time

Five days, about ten minutes each:

  • Count to six and clap on 1 and 4.
  • Rocking pattern with C, two minutes.
  • Lantern song with “Waits for me”.
  • Fun: play “Stille Nacht” very softly in the evening.

Done when …

  • you play the rocking pattern evenly
  • you accompany a whole 6/8 song

If you get stuck

  • It sounds like a waltz? A waltz counts 3, this is twice 3. The four must be as clear as the one.
  • Too hectic? Slow the backing down. 6/8 can sound calm and soft.
For teachers: lesson plan
  1. ≈ 10 min Warm-up: everyone rocks from side to side while seated and counts to six. Tip over on 1 and 4.
  2. ≈ 15 min Practice: half clap 1 and 4, the other half play the rocking pattern – then swap.
  3. ≈ 20 min Song together: “Ich geh mit meiner Laterne” – maybe with a little lantern parade through the room.

Differentiation: those who are confident play the piece with down-up or help a partner; those who need more time strum only on beat one of each bar.

For the board: openstring.de/ukulele/en/lesson/13/

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