A short circuit welding method with successive welding cycles with a respective arc phase and short circuit phase includes controlling at least the welding parameters welding current and feed speed of a melting electrode and feeding the electrode toward of a workpiece at a predetermined forward final speed at least during part of the arc phase and away from the workpiece at a predetermined rearward final speed at least during part of the short circuit phase. A device carries out this method. A change in the feed speed and a rearward final speed are predetermined and a welding current is controlled to complete the short circuit phase after reaching the rearward final speed and after 3 ms at the latest and repeat every 8 ms at the latest. The welding parameters are controlled such that the welding cycle duration≤8 ms, resulting in a welding frequency≥125 Hz.