Kevin Dean Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) I've just started working on a cover by " The Gang Of Four " ( At Home He's a tourist ) I'm having trouble keeping the triple riff constant ,for the tone I don't want to use finger style . Any tips would be welcome . thanks . Edited February 23, 2015 by Kevin Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 God, triplets with a plec are a pain in the arse! Even after years of playing with a plectrum (admittedly not as thoroughly as fingerstyle) I still haven't nailed it. I can do it like 10 times perfectly but then I lose it and my hand doesn't work anymore! I suspect it may take a lot of trial and error with different strings (tension, gauge), EQ and different plectrums (flexibility, size). And a lot of practice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louisthebass Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I think on Carol Kaye's website she favours playing triplets with a downstroke, followed by two upstrokes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) Ha, well, there you go....I find it easier to play 'At home....' with a plectrum ! It's certainly easier if you can up- and down-stroke. Edit: Having just tried it, it's a lot to do with locking in with the muting of the D with the fretting hand when I play it. Edited February 23, 2015 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) The figure in that track isn't actually a triplet, though, it's a "galloping" quaver-semiquaver-semiquaver (or eighth-sixteenth-sixteenth) figure. I expect down-up-up would be pretty murderous there... try down-down-up? That way you're up/downs are in a steady semiquaver pulse: strike down - no strike up - strike down - strike up Edit: I just tried it and found that an alternating down/up felt best for me, where the accents alternate down/up: down-up-down / up-down-up / etc. Edited February 23, 2015 by ras52 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKenrick Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1424703198' post='2699343'] Edit: I just tried it and found that an alternating down/up felt best for me, where the accents alternate down/up: down-up-down / up-down-up / etc. [/quote] Same here - I find strict alternation (down-up-down, up-down-up) is the best way to play it. As far as keeping it constant goes... Practice slowly ([i]really[/i] slowly) and keep an eye on your picking hand to make sure that it's actually alternating all the time. I remember having to shout 'down, up, down, up' at my hand when I first starting working on picking in order to make it stick - sounds silly but it worked!. I wouldn't be overly concerned about what thickness or size of plectrum you use, the main thing is that you spend some time letting your picking hand get used to a new way of playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedmanzie Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Punk (post punk!) in my opinion I would definitely [i]not[/i] alternate on the down beats, you want your downs on the down for max attitude (and better consistency). It's like ras52 said before changing his mind [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]strike down - no strike up - strike down - strike up[/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Down, Down, Up. Great choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 The chorus is straight notes & going back to the verse is tricky . It's improving with practice I might also shorten my strap slightly to see if that helps . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 JUst double-checked and what I actually play is down down-up-down down-up-down down-up-down down (repeat) Great bassline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I find the best method for triplets is not perfect alternate picking in terms of down-up-down, up-down-up, down-up-down, up-down-up. Rather, I have most joy with down-up-down, down-up-down, down-up-down. It takes a little getting used to because you have two downstrokes back to back, but it seems (to me anyway) to be the best method of getting a consistent sound to triplets. I'm sure a more veteran bassist will have a far better method than this, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 [quote name='louisthebass' timestamp='1424702562' post='2699329'] I think on Carol Kaye's website she favours playing triplets with a downstroke, followed by two upstrokes? [/quote] Can't imagine how difficult that would be! I started bass after playing guitar, so im pretty proficient with a plectrum. Down-up-down is the method i use. But your hand should constantly be moving. Its quite hard to explain this in writing, but basically you play "down - up -down - up", but on the second "up", retract the plectrum so it doesnt play the note. I dont know if this is obvious, but people i have shown, always try to reset the picking hand, rather than keep a constant motion and just exclude playing the 4th note. Hope that makes sense to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kusee pee Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Down, down, up is my preference. Great tune to practise with, that GOF number. Some early Duran Duran is useful too, particularly Planet Earth and Hold Back The Rain. JT used to say that he used a pick for these tracks cos he found it difficult with fingers. Personally, I find it easier with fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natjag Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 The difficult part to me seems to be crossing strings downwards. Using down up down up etc. I don't know the track you mention, I was just playing a scale to try it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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