playing triplets

[fatt-dad]

Dear NG,

So, if the music shows back-to-back triplets do you end up starting the second set of triplets with an upbeat?

Also, if you are just playing a triplet is it "best" to use a hammer-on to keep the pick going in the correct matter or to have two quick downstrokes (i.e., the last note of the triplet and the first note following)?

My mind understands the rhythem, but I just don't feel like I have the smart way of working the pick in place.

Thanks in advance.

fatt-dad

[fatt-dad]

[QUOTE]starting the second set of triplets with an upbeat?

I meant upstroke.

f-d

[craigtoo]

If the meter of the tune...was in 6/8, (or 9/8 or 12/8 etc) I would use a "phantom" stroke to make sure that I ended up on a down stroke on the down beat... Sorta like an Irish Jig. DUD DUD DUD

But if it was in 2/4 or 4/4 and it was a triplet phrase...(which is the case I think you are talking about...) I'd pick it straight. DUD UDU then you end up with a Down on the next down beat. When I do do this.. I usually try to accent the first note of each triplet to give them more definition.

like: Dud Udu Dud Udu D u D u

I always try as a rule to have Down strokes on the beat. This happpens to be for me one of the exceptions...

hope this helps..
craig

[Mark Robertson-Tessi]

For certain passages you can use just two strokes:
Down for the first note, hammer on or pull off for the second, up for the third note. Naturally if you cant HO or PO due to the layout of the notes, you can't do this. Also naturally your pick timing there will not be the straight down-up rhythm, the up-stroke on the third note has to fall 2/3 of the way through the beat to match the triplet rhythm.

This technique can give you slightly cleaner results since you have less instances of the pick hitting the strings.

Cheers,
Mark Robertson-Tessi

[fatt-dad]

Thanks guys! This is what I was kind of thinking. It's just nice to get some support from the masses.

f-d