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Thread: Eighth note triplet pick direction on jazz tunes

  1. #1

    Default Eighth note triplet pick direction on jazz tunes

    Hi guys, I wasn't sure if this should go in the jazz forum but I was just curious if the general rule of thumb for playing eighth note triplets over a jazz tune would be DUD DUD as is generally the case in, say, Irish jigs? Sometimes I see an eighth note rest at the beginning of the triplet so I suppose it's situational but I was just curious to see how you guys play them. Thanks!

  2. #2
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Eighth note triplet pick direction on jazz tunes

    That depends on the tune as sometimes I'd play triplets DUD, other times I would not pick every note but would pick the first note of the triplet and hammer on/pull off the others like a jazz horn player slurring. Other times might be DUD UDU or some other combination that works for the phrase.

    It's also how I play the same material on guitar.

  3. #3
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Eighth note triplet pick direction on jazz tunes

    Agree with David it depends on the groove and the context for me but generally speaking

    I naturally fall into DUD for swing triplets … even if only for a beat, and even if I don’t articulate each note but use slurs instead … it just feels natural to me to switch to DUD and also natural to use slurs frequently.

    In fact, I posted a little lesson on it here, with PDF and video, using a couple of blues intros as exercises: https://theamateurmandolinist.com/20...iplets-in-4-4/
    Last edited by Mark Gunter; Mar-19-2023 at 9:24am.
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    Default Re: Eighth note triplet pick direction on jazz tunes

    DUD DUD gives us a distinct feel so I’d be likely to play DUD UDU for consecutive triplets unless the tune calls for that particular feel, as much Irish music does.
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    Default Re: Eighth note triplet pick direction on jazz tunes

    Quote Originally Posted by ChrisWallace1 View Post
    Hi guys, I wasn't sure if this should go in the jazz forum but I was just curious if the general rule of thumb for playing eighth note triplets over a jazz tune would be DUD DUD as is generally the case in, say, Irish jigs? Sometimes I see an eighth note rest at the beginning of the triplet so I suppose it's situational but I was just curious to see how you guys play them. Thanks!
    I'm not really a jazz player but I do play standards with a somewhat jazzy feel (however, more often on the guitar) and my rule of the thumb would simply be: don't pick every note, use slides, PO's, HO's, formaxiumum expression and rhythmic variety- Whenever I want the snap of a picked triplet, I might use a favorite technique of mine: splitting the down stroke over the pair of strings, or dropping the pick from one course to the next higher one.

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  9. #6

    Default Re: Eighth note triplet pick direction on jazz tunes

    Thanks guys! Yikes, I didn't even think of using hammer ons and pull offs! Mark, special thanks for the link to the lesson and your site in general. Very cool stuff! Thanks again!

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