For this third installment in my series on time signature, I break down what 12/8 time signature feels like for those of us who don't have degrees in advanced music theory! Learn technical terms like "dreamy" and "swishy" and learn how to spot 12/8 time by singing through two great examples of it—"Perfect" by Ed Sheeran and "O, Holy Night" by Mariah Carey.
Missed the other two videos in the series? You’ll probably want to watch them first! Start with Feeling the Difference Between 4/4 and 3/4 Time Signature:
Next, watch Feeling the Difference Between 3/4 and 6/8 Time Signature. Why? Because 12/8 time feels like a mash-up of all three of those time signatures, so it’s best if you can wrap your brain around those time signatures first!
Once you’ve caught up on the videos, try using the hand gestures I demonstrate in the 12/8 Time Signature Explained video as you listen to Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” and Mariah Carey’s rendition of “O, Holy Night”:
Can you hear how the 12/8 time signature gives both of these songs a dreamy, ethereal quality? What’s your favorite song set in 12/8?
