When writing rhythms or melodies which contain eighth notes, there are certain ways of grouping the notes to make them easy to understand. The particular way notes are grouped often depends on the time signature. In any simple time signature (%, ^ or * ) eighth notes can always be grouped in pairs, as shown here. This makes it easier to see where the beats occur.
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In ^ time it is possible to group four eighth notes together. In * time four eighth notes can be grouped together on the first and second beats or the third and fourth beats, but not on the second and third beats.
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In ^ time it is also possible to group all six eighth notes together.
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