Question: I have seen many different song sheets for the Beatles Song *Norwegian Wood* using time signatures of 3/4, 6/8 and 12/8. My question is, why are they all different, why is there no consensus? What I hear in the original are 2 different time signatures (and 2 different modes): the verses with a kind of 3/4 feel and the chorus 12/8. Shouldn't the time signatures convey to the way you interpret the song?

[![Original lead sheet](https://i.stack.imgur.com/w1rN7.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/w1rN7.png) original lead sheet
[![3/4 Piano arrangement](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8C1ZM.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8C1ZM.png) some piano arrangement
[![6/8 Piano arrangement](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1nBNs.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1nBNs.png) another piano arrangement

Answer: 
Having had a hard listen to Norwegian Wood, I can't put it into anything but 6/8.

Reasons being - the bass plays on 1 for each bar, as does the guitar. There's a distinct 'it could be a two feel, but the quicker three feel is still there'.

Were it 3/4, the second bar each time has little definition not really making it a separate bar.

Were it 12/8, the second '6/8' bar would be less defined - it's not.

The 3/4 version (in an easy-to-play key) would be a simplified version for beginners. The 12/8 version, not sure. Although it's in the recorded (and probably 'written' guitar friendly key), it doesn't need to be a more complex 12/8, when 6/8 scans well.

While writing it, it's quite possible that John and Paul didn't even consider what the time signature was - it was just the way this song developed - and didn't really matter, until some poor soul had to commit it to print.

The 6/8 piano arrangement is just that - an arrangement - and as such, could be written in any way preferred by the arranger - he could have arranged it in 5/4 if he so desired ! But, for me at least, he kept the time signature to what I believe is most appropriate for the Beatles' recorded version of this song. I rest my case!
All good discussion. The three-pattern of the song fits in to all those time signatures. But what does it *feel* like? Does it feel like a waltz? Does it feel like a triplet march?

I prefer the 12/8, because it feels like two-bar phrases from the chord and melody movement, and can live with 6/8.