Double Bass Drag triples -- think I finally got it

[MrSmith]

Been trying to get the hang of drag triples for years now, and it just never clicked, until now. Pretty exciting. Now I just have to get it more consistent and figure out how/when to use it. Any tips?

 

[FatBoutedGirls]

Sweet! I know exactly how you feel, when it clicks you feel like the plateau is behind you and you are on the way up again!

Use it before every note. Seriously, that's how I got consistent with it on all strings, just played every solo/bassline I knew dragging into every note. It's easier to cut back once you've got the habit.

 

[Gaolee]

Congratulations! I just started playing in a rockabilly band, so now I probably better figure it out.

 

[FatBoutedGirls]

Been trying to get the hang of drag triples for years now, and it just never clicked, until now. Pretty exciting. Now I just have to get it more consistent and figure out how/when to use it. Any tips?



^ Why would a moderator remove my video?

you've got to be a member and post a couple times before you can put up a video. Is that you in the video?

 

[MrSmith]

That is me.

 

[Feral Feline]

Nicely done!

I was weird, starting out I got the drag triplet immediately but couldn't figure out a normal triplet, even after checking out videos etc, until a friend showed me in person.

How and when to use it? That's a matter of taste and everybody's aural palate differs. Experiment with it and try to throw it in at different points in a line to see what works for you and what doesn't.

For me the challenge was to work it in when I wanted to, and now that I can, the challenge has become to make it smooth and accent a line rather than interrupt a line. For me it's fun to start with a drag triplet on a hiccupy syncopated section, or to finish such a section with it.

For example, Al Gare's descending line in "Johnny Got A Boom Boom", below at 1:20 and 1:45 (and at the end of the clip), he just plays a straight pull off the bottom G before hitting the open A – I like to throw in a drag triplet on that G before snapping the open A.

 

[MrSmith]

Cool stuff.

It's funny that once you get them going it's actually pretty easy to keep the rapid fire machine gun triples coming. I used to be really impressed by that. At the moment, the hardest thing is to play them at a slower tempo. It's also a lot harder for me to do them on the E/G string, probably just a geometry thing that I'll work out eventually. I imagine my consistency will improve as it gets locked into my muscle memory. Right now my memory needs a bit of a jog here and there.

 

[Feral Feline]

Try shifting your body for the E & G strings to get the right angle, or angling the bass a bit when hitting DTs on those strings.

Dang if playing this thang 'taint a major physical endeavour!

 

[Tommy Vee]

Great job! You will find places to use it! Just go for it and throw it in when you can...