What I Have Learned The 6 time signature is grouped into six's (3), number tells the number of beats in a measure. The lower number tells the that receives 1 beat. In 8 there are 6 beats in every measure and the note that receives 1 beat is an note because of the numeral 8. An eighth note ( is 1/8 of a whole note, so it receives 1 beat. It the original value of the notes and rests.​