[jancsika]

> The 6/8 time wheel gives a heavy bass drum on the four count. I don't notice such a thing in the waltz every other measure.

Here's 6/8 beat hierarchy:

Beat 1: Strongest

Beat 2: Weak

Beat 3: Weak

Beat 4: Strong

Beat 5: Weak

Beat 6: Weak

The first beat of the measure is the strongest. Beat 4 is strong but typically not as strong as the first beat.

Now here is the 3/4 beat hierarchy for many types of pieces that are in 3/4 time:

Measure 1 Beat 1: Strongest

Measure 1 Beat 2: Weak

Measure 1 Beat 3: Weak

Measure 2 Beat 1: Strong

Measure 2 Beat 2: Weak

Measure 2 Beat 3: Weak

The first beat of the measure 1 is the strongest. Beat 1 of measure 2 is strong but typically not as strong as the first beat of measure 1. These two measure groups typically continue for the entire piece, as in a waltz.

The two are functionally equivalent in terms of rhythm.

It's confusing because there are three variables: the number of beats in a measure (top of the fraction), which duration gets the beat (bottom of the fraction), and the tempo (how long each beat lasts).