From bowiki

Slipjigs are a more complicated beast than standard Jigs.

The rhythm is split into three groups of three beats. Is it 3 or is it 9?

I would count a slipjig as ONE two three TWO two three THREE two three; I would categorise that as 9/8.

That 'awkwardness', the reversal within the rhythm and the rhythmic opportunities give the slip jigs it's attractiveness to me.

Playing the rhythm evenly with alternating strokes is no easy feat for a beginner.

Or- an- ges- Pine- ap- ples- Ki- wi- Fruit.

The strokes for the slipjig bar are

D U D - U D U - D U D

in the second bar that reverses so you play

U D U - D U D - U D U .

The full cycle is

D U D - U D U - D U D - U D U - D U D - U D U .

Note that you are starting on the upstroke in the second half - and there lies the rub. Technically this is a great rhythm to strengthen the upstroke as you will often be accenting the first beat in the bar.

A playerwho plays using double down strokes simply repeats the first part of the cycle as illustrated below. I have bolded the double downs. This technique also allows accents to be placed on the stronger downstroke if the player chooses

D U D - U D U - D U D - D U D - U D U - D U D

Alternatively

D U D - D U D - D U D - D U D - D U D - D U D