Hello folks, would like to talk about triplets. Mainly, what are some thoughts on the "top stick" triplet as a true triplet. Is it? Or is it an after-effect of a slightly over-rotated down stroke? Haven't contributed to the board for quite some time so under my new user name, thought I'd give this one a go.

TR

Hey tom

"top stick" triplet as a true triplet. Is it? Or is it an after-effect of a slightly over-rotated down stroke?

Many people just use the standard kerry triplet no matter whether they are playing top or Kerry. With top end, it's just a matter of dropping your hand low enough so the top of the Tipper can strike the skin. You can see johnjoe do this on the solo video

The single stroke triplet / roll is different in that it is not forced to be a triplet pattern as it is with Kerry; instead, any combination of strokes is theoretically possible. These are accomplished usually simply by speeding up the hand stroke. You can see Eamon Murray using it extensively.

One of the main effects on a player is that after executing a single stroke roll you will sometimes be left playing 'upside down' so your first beat starts on the upstroke. A major advantages of the double down is that it can correct this instantly. The two things don't have to go hand in hand but it certainly helps.

The double down roll uses the grace upstrokes between the two downstrokes to add in an extra fill e.g. D.D.U. becomes DuD.U. In a jig this usually sounds pretty normal but in a reel it gives a fast triplet feel that carries easily over the barline

The double down roll can be combined with Kerry style triplets do DuD.U becomes DtuDt.U. It sounds fast but is often messy.

The problems I experienced when developing these kinds of skills in my hands are that although I could plysically do the movements, it is difficult to keep consistent contact of the stick on the skin without scraping across lightly or missing it altogether :) Some days I'm better than others and being warmed up certainly helps. The bell and the practise pad really help too but their curved striking area is much easier to hit than the flat plane of a drum skin, you can hear the accuracy difference when I'm hitting the matchbox although a biro is simply for illustration and definitely not my favourite tool

It's a bit like all of these things, a little exploration goes a long way toward opening doors that lead to other rooms. I rarely play on the top end in sessions, when I did play it was usually me and Paul Phillips so he took the top and I took the bottom. The egg drum just sounds so awesome down there that I'm becoming a bottom feeder, I'll leave the top end stuff to you young'uns bearing tippers with go faster stripes, alloys and fog lights lit on a bright evening.

HTH

P

Hey tom

"top stick" triplet as a true triplet. Is it? Or is it an after-effect of a slightly over-rotated down stroke?

Many people just use the standard kerry triplet no matter whether they are playing top or Kerry. With top end, it's just a matter of dropping your hand low enough so the top of the Tipper can strike the skin. You can see johnjoe do this on the solo video

The single stroke triplet / roll is different in that it is not forced to be a triplet pattern as it is with Kerry; instead, any combination of strokes is theoretically possible. These are accomplished usually simply by speeding up the hand stroke. You can see Eamon Murray using it extensively.

One of the main effects on a player is that after executing a single stroke roll you will sometimes be left playing 'upside down' so your first beat starts on the upstroke. A major advantages of the double down is that it can correct this instantly. The two things don't have to go hand in hand but it certainly helps.

The double down roll uses the grace upstrokes between the two downstrokes to add in an extra fill e.g. D.D.U. becomes DuD.U. In a jig this usually sounds pretty normal but in a reel it gives a fast triplet feel that carries easily over the barline

The double down roll can be combined with Kerry style triplets do DuD.U becomes DtuDt.U. It sounds fast but is often messy.

The problems I experienced when developing these kinds of skills in my hands are that although I could plysically do the movements, it is difficult to keep consistent contact of the stick on the skin without scraping across lightly or missing it altogether :) Some days I'm better than others and being warmed up certainly helps. The bell and the practise pad really help too but their curved striking area is much easier to hit than the flat plane of a drum skin, you can hear the accuracy difference when I'm hitting the matchbox although a biro is simply for illustration and definitely not my favourite tool

It's a bit like all of these things, a little exploration goes a long way toward opening doors that lead to other rooms. I rarely play on the top end in sessions, when I did play it was usually me and Paul Phillips so he took the top and I took the bottom. The egg drum just sounds so awesome down there that I'm becoming a bottom feeder, I'll leave the top end stuff to you young'uns bearing tippers with go faster stripes, alloys and fog lights lit on a bright evening.

HTH

P

Hi Tom and paul;
I am still discovering the instrument after two years and playing by discovering and mainly exercising. Since a little time I am trying top end play and succeeded to play top end triplets by means of speeding up the pace of the Tipper.If I undestand you correctly the way that John Joe Kelly plays them is a different style. Does he uses more down force on the tipper towards the drum or could you explain me again how he does it? All the best;
Ron

Hey Ron,

Welcome to the board.

Speeding up the hand. as you say, is how I'm doing it. I'm just inserting wee rhythms into the speedy up bits. I usually find that easier that straight 16s or whatever they are. Practise 1,2,3,4 then 1+2+3+4+ then 1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a so you double speed each time then come back to as slow as you like but always keeping the same pulse. Dare I recommend a metronome :)

To see the upright kerry triplet go to the JJK solo video (with a timer) and check out at about 1.55 to see what I mean about dropping the hand to let the upper end of the Tipper hit the skin. It sounds and looks great although the camera angle is all wrong for us to see in this case.

Basically if you can do a regular kerry triplet with your hand pointing to 3 o'clock then do the same thing but with your hand pointing at 11-12 o'clock. Because the hand is usually at or above the drum shell level, you need to drop the hand down to get the tipper to the skin. It's hard to get high pitched triplets pecause there is a physical minimum distance. Single ended rolls can be excuted on a big fat pinhead.

They're all just tools for us to play with when decorating the music :)

HTH

Paul

Great reply dude! <wink> But the only thing I can add is I wish I were a young'un and could still handle the pinstripes and fog lights!

I also must add the website looks fantastic since the remodel! (Whenever that was...been awhile ;)


TR