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LESSON 4 : triplets
Contents
of this lesson:
8th-Triplets with toms and snaredrum
Same pattern with accents
Pattern with tom1, tom2, SD, FT, BD
"Right-left-bass" triplet
Pattern with hihat and snaredrum
Devastating solo triplets
You've come through the first three lessons, hopefully with a lot
of pleasure, didn't you?
Then it's time to try something else, Triplets, for a change.
Triplets are really something else, because they belong to a
different "family", i.e. 3/4 beats, related to 6/8
beats.
I hope you like those things as much as I do, but will take a few
moments and a lot of practise to play 'em!
You don't learn these triplets just as an exercise. Of course
they love to be (ab)used in solos as well. I hope to encourage
you to play very them nasty and dazzle all your fellow drummers
with 'em, but play MELODICALLY!
There's a little bit of theory necessary to understand what's
different about Triplets:
In fact, you have to think of Triplets as THREE notes at the same
time in which you normally play TWO notes.
So this could be seen as quarter triples in comparison with
quarter beats:
___________
/ 3 \
| | | | |
| | | is almost similar to: | |
0 0 0 0 0
___
/ 3 \
_____ is almost similar to: ____
| | | | |
| | | | |
0 0 0 0 0
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It's the best thing, I guess, to start with the 8th-note Triplets.
The way we can count the triplets is a little bit different in
comparison with the patterns you're used to...
I count the pattern like this:
"One-and-a-Two-and-a-Three-and-a-Four-and-a"
So it's time to produce our first pattern.
You will notice that above the notes a sort of bow with a number
3 in it is displayed.
That's a usual way to indicate we're dealing with Triplets.:
1)
1...e...a...2...e...a...3...e...a...4...e...a...
_____ _____ _____ _____
/ 3 \ / 3 \ / 3 \ / 3 \
_________ _________ _________ _________
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Tom1 |---|---|---|--0----|---|---|---|---|--0----|---|---|
Tom2 |--0----|---|-------|---|--0----|---|-------|---|---|
SD |:-----0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0---:|
|---------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------|
R L R L R L R L R L R L
It's just
like you see. You constantly alternate your (R)right and (L)left
hand.
Try to practise this one first slowly, for it's more difficult
than you think it is.
Be sure every interval between the notes gets exactly the same
space, for that's the only way to make it sound great...
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Of course you're not restricted to play Triplets on toms, you can
play them everywhere on your drumkit, where you think it sounds
well. You be the judge!
Therefore I will give you some patterns and less talking to bring
up some ideas...
The following is in fact the same pattern as pattern #1 of this
lesson, but with some small differences. If you did play your way
through the triplets, you can add some things to change the sound...
2)
- Play a bassdrum on every quarternote (1,2,3,4).
- Play different accents ; normally
your accent will be heared on the 1,2,3,4-counts. I do
indicate an "accent" with a ">" above the note played.
So I write down for you the three combinations that can
be made with triplets.
> > > >
i) R L R . L R L . R L R . L R L
> > > >
ii) R L R . L R L . R L R . L R L
> > > >
iii) R L R . L R L . R L R . L R L
The real cleverdicks in the audience will apply this
exercise also to the fill
you've already learned at lesson #1. So in fact you don't play
one fill, but four!!
For example:
> > > >
i) R L R L . R L R L . R L R L . R L R L
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Fun with those triplets and the next to be played:
3)
1...e...a...2...e...a...3...e...a...4...e...a...
_____ _____ _____ _____
/ 3 \ / 3 \ / 3 \ / 3 \
_________ _________ _________ _________
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Tom1 |---|---|---|--0----|---|---|---|---|--0----|---|---|
Tom2 |--0----|---|-------|---|---|---|---|-------|---|---|
SD |:-----0---0-------0---0----|--0---0-------0---0---:|
|---------------------------|-----------------------|
FT |--------------------------0------------------------|
BD 0 0 0 0
| | | |
| | | |
R L R L R L R L R L R L
B B B B
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Again another pattern, much used for soloing also.
You will hear this one often if you listen carefully to solos by
hard-rock drummers.
You should practise it thoroughly and (if ever) slowly first to
cause the socalled "rolling effect" when played fast.
It may look like very simple, but don't be hasty with this one
for it takes around half a year for the average drummer to get
the "rolling effect" how he likes it and whenever he
wants it.
Remember, if you can do it properly, it will sure be devastating.
It will be one hell of a thundermachine!!
4) left-hand first right-hand first
1...e...a... etc. 1...e...a... etc.
_____ _____
/ 3 \ / 3 \
_________ _________
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Tom1 |----0----|---|---| |----0----|---|---|
|---------|---|---| |---------|---|---|
|:--------|---|--:| |:--------|---|--:|
|---------|---|---| |---------|---|---|
FT |--------0----|---| |--------0----|---|
BD 0 0
L R B R L B
A little help when playing these patterns could be counting this way:
For the first pattern: "left-right-bass" , and "right-left-bass" for the second.
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I already mentioned you don't have to stick at the Toms for
triplets. Why not try them with your hihat and your snaredrum,
for a change?
Again three useful variations you might like.
You can practise them with or without the bassdrum on "1"...
5) 1...e...a... 2...e...a... 3...e...a...
_____ _____ _____
/ 3 \ / 3 \ / 3 \
_________ _________ _________
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
HH X X | X | | X | X
|------------|--| |-------|---|--| |-------|-----|
| | | | | | | | | |
SD |:----------0--:| |:-----0---0--:| |:-----0-----:|
| | | | | |
|---------------| |--------------| |-------------|
BD 0 0 0
| | |
| | |
Finally
variations on a fill again that could be as devastating as the
others you've played.
This one will definitely make the ladies (and the gentlemen, too)
faint...
6)
1...e...a...2...e...a...3...e...a...4...e...a...
_____ _____ _____ _____
/ 3 \ / 3 \ / 3 \ / 3 \
_________ _________ _________ _________
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Tom1 |----|---|---|--0---0----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tom2 |----|---|---|-----------|--0---0----|---|---|---|---|
SD |:--0---0----|-----------|-----------|---|---|---|--:|
|------------|-----------|-----------|---|---|---|---|
FT |------------|-----------|-----------|--0---0----|---|
BD 0 0 0 0
Find some patterns you like or combine 'em!
i) R R B R R B R R B R R B
ii) L L B L L B L L B L L B
iii) R L B R L B R L B R L B
iv) L R B L R B L R B L R B
Have fun
with the patterns and see you at lesson 5 for even more triplets
!!
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