Triplets

Sizlack · #1 03-31-2011, 12:45 PM

Not sure if this should go here or in technique...

Trying to learn Barracuda, I'm using the bass tab white pages book to learn it from.
The open string triplets that is shows for the verse riff are pretty easy, no problems playing them.
However the second half of what it shows of the verse is using triplets between the 7th fret on the A string and the open E.

Looks something like this...

A-----7---7------77---77---777------777
E-0-00--00--000----0----0-------000----

The section in red however is giving me fits, I seem to have alot of trouble moving from the A back down to the E string playing triplets.
Any suggestions other than just playing it slowly until I get it? Spent about 3 hrs just working on that yesterday, and didn't seem to help much.
I'm playing with my fingers by the way, not much good with a pick.

singlemalt · #2 03-31-2011, 12:51 PM

listen to it until you can sing it, then play it.

Normal music notation might help you cut up the measures and see the pattern.

Tab is notoriously poor at communicating time. I'm looking at it and I can't make heads or tails.

But yeah, tricky patterns can take time to settle in. nothing for it but more practice.

Sizlack · #3 03-31-2011, 01:02 PM

I have the time down the tab im using also has the bass clef printed above it. its just triplets. I can play triplets without a problem so on a single string, or moving up from the E string, but seems as if my fingers cannot do it moving down from the A to the E.

As for the example all notes should be in sets of three (triplets) with the exception of the first open E. They don't line up well, was the best I could do.

singlemalt · #4 03-31-2011, 01:15 PM

"Defend your limitations and you get to keep them." Or something like that.

Slow the metronome down, until you can play it clean. Or put the metronome in triplet pattern. Once you get it, bump it up 10 bmp at a time until it falls apart or you get to tempo. Then try it faster.

Make your self up some triplet exercises that cross strings, work them into your scale and arpeggio routine.

It's always worth teaching your right hand to do new tricks. By tomorrow it will be easy.

WhiteKnuckles · #5 03-31-2011, 01:19 PM

This thread is invalid due to a technicality:

These are not triplets....they're 3 quarter notes and a quarter rest.

Sizlack · #6 03-31-2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteKnuckles

This thread is invalid due to a technicality:

These are not triplets....they're 3 quarter notes and a quarter rest.

Although I may have written the tab incorrectly (im at work and don't have the book to reference in front of me) thats two full bars and my understanding is its triplets. for example

E-0-000-000-000-00|0-000-000-000-
is that not triplets? If i'm incorrect then I apologize.

Sizlack · #7 03-31-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singlemalt

"Defend your limitations and you get to keep them." Or something like that.

Slow the metronome down, until you can play it clean. Or put the metronome in triplet pattern. Once you get it, bump it up 10 bmp at a time until it falls apart or you get to tempo. Then try it faster.

Make your self up some triplet exercises that cross strings, work them into your scale and arpeggio routine.

It's always worth teaching your right hand to do new tricks. By tomorrow it will be easy.

Thanks...I guess I need a more versatile metronome, mine only has a BPM setting on it. Looks like I'll hit the woodshed with it this weekend... I can do a pretty good job counting them in time with the standard 4/4 beat.

MonetBass · #8 03-31-2011, 02:22 PM

Those aren't triplets. They're one eighth note coupled with two sixteenth notes. If I wasn't on my iPhone I'd post an example. Count it out and you'll understand.

Sizlack · #9 03-31-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonetBass

Those aren't triplets. They're one eighth note coupled with two sixteenth notes. If I wasn't on my iPhone I'd post an example. Count it out and you'll understand.

I suppose so...I stand corrected.

Warfender · #10 03-31-2011, 02:33 PM

Your tab is wrong. The Octave isn't played. It is on the open E triplet feel. It's what the bass player in the beginning of this live footage. But if it wasn't you would use the rake method to pickup the bottom string. Feel free to ask me about that is you don't know it.

YouTube - Heart - Barracuda (live 1978)

FretlessMainly · #11 03-31-2011, 02:35 PM

Definitely not triplets. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th notes of the figure (the three notes we're discussing as triplets) start out feeling like triplets, but the final note is held longer than the previous two. It's syncopation, not triplets.

Jazz Ad · #12 03-31-2011, 02:36 PM

Here are triplets.

And here's a galop, what you have in Barracuda.

puddin tame · #13 03-31-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sizlack

Not sure if this should go here or in technique...

Trying to learn Barracuda, I'm using the bass tab white pages book to learn it from.
The open string triplets that is shows for the verse riff are pretty easy, no problems playing them.
However the second half of what it shows of the verse is using triplets between the 7th fret on the A string and the open E.

Looks something like this...

A-----7---7------77---77---777------777
E-0-00--00--000----0----0-------000----

The section in red however is giving me fits, I seem to have alot of trouble moving from the A back down to the E string playing triplets.
Any suggestions other than just playing it slowly until I get it? Spent about 3 hrs just working on that yesterday, and didn't seem to help much.
I'm playing with my fingers by the way, not much good with a pick.

play it on the 12th fret of the E string instead of the 7th on the A string, at least until your technique improves.

i'm suprised so many posts and no one said this... you guys need to spend some quality time with your fret boards!

Febs · #14 03-31-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

And here's a galop, what you have in Barracuda.

It's the opposite of this. A quarter followed by two sixteenths.

Blake Bass · #15 03-31-2011, 03:46 PM

That's backwards, and it should be an EIGHT note followed by two sixteenths

projectMalamute · #16 03-31-2011, 04:05 PM

My head has just exploded.

HolmeBass · #17 03-31-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddin tame

play it on the 12th fret of the E string instead of the 7th on the A string, at least until your technique improves.

i'm suprised so many posts and no one said this... you guys need to spend some quality time with your fret boards!

This. Tonally it might not be as good a fit as the 7th fret A string, but it will get you through the song.

For the long term incorporate some string crossing exercises into your regimen.

singlemalt · #18 03-31-2011, 04:52 PM

I may have confused the issue early on. I was looking at what you typed, I don't have the tab or notation. My remarks were more general in nature, about how to learn and practice. I have a low opinion of tab, it can be helpful, but often times there are easier ways to play a part. Some tabs are just plain wrong. So are some standard notations.

If you hum the riff, you can hear it's not a triplet feel, which would be more smooth and even. It is indeed more of a gallop.

We have an older Boss Dr. Beat metronome. You can slide up controls to give 1/8, 1/16, or triplet feels. The new one's look really cool and have more features. For the price of a pedal a really good metronome is way more useful.

But even with a standard click, you can do tons of stuff. I also have a little metronome I picked up at Goodwill for $3.

Set the bpm at 80, think 4/4 and count/play quarters. Now count play 1/8's, 1/16th's ect. Now triplets. The triplets feel way different. right?

Now that pattern in red isn't that hard to play if you rake the finger that strikes the second high E through the low E. Say middle, index, index, middle index index. Try it as triplets then as an 1/8 and two 1/16ths. Feel the difference?

Here's an exercise that bamboozled me at first but proved invaluable. Simple root/five pattern, say A and E, fifth and seventh frets. Set your click to 4/4. Not fast. This is for the index and middle fingers of the right or plucking, hand.

As a general guideline the fingers alternate on the same string or when climbing across strings (E to G), but you want to use the same finger to strike lower strings going down (G towards E).

These are 1/4 notes, count 1,2,3,4....

Play the E on the one and the A on 2,3 and 4. Make sure the finger that plays the E strikes the A on beat two. So, middle (E) middle (A) index (A) middle (A). Then index (E) index (A) middle (A) index (A). Slight accent on the ONE. Notice, if you are doing this right, the finger striking the E on ONE alternates. Feels weird, but there is an economy of motion here. Do it till you get it, slow the click down if you need to.

Now for the tricky part! Move the E note to the two beat. Now it's A,E,AA,. Same thing here, the finger striking E strikes the next A. Get that down, move the E to beat three, and once you got that to beat four. Get each one straight, sing it as you play and count.

Then do groups of four of each pattern, one after the other. Bonus points when you can rip through the four patterns in sixteen beats.

Try triplets the same way. I do this to warm up before practice and gigs.

This gets you raking the strings across two strings. Now try the whole shooting match with an octave across three. With all of these exercises, mindfully vary your dynamics. Play em as loud and hard as you can, cleanly, and as soft as you can. Don't speed up or slow down with the the dynamics.

Now keep these right hand rule in mind when you do scales and arpeggios.

And that should keep you busy for quite a while.

As always, I would suggest a really good bassist who is also really good teacher, ( they are very rare) for lessons. Good luck.

Jazz Ad · #19 04-01-2011, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs

It's the opposite of this. A quarter followed by two sixteenths.

Which makes exactly no difference rythmically. Put the bar wherever you want, the accents are the same.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake Bass

That's backwards, and it should be an EIGHT note followed by two sixteenths

That's exactly what there is.

JimmyM · #20 04-01-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warfender

Your tab is wrong. The Octave isn't played. It is on the open E triplet feel. It's what the bass player in the beginning of this live footage. But if it wasn't you would use the rake method to pickup the bottom string. Feel free to ask me about that is you don't know it.

YouTube - Heart - Barracuda (live 1978)

listen to the end of the song and say that. there are octaves at the end. also, i know some people on here rake, but i think it does more harm than good, especially in a situation like this. strict alternation is key to being able to do those string jumps.