Triplet strumming techniques

Subject: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST,Fred Miller
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 03:06 PM

I used to have a lot of trouble doing triplet strums of any sort, flatpicked or fingerstrums, but I like the feel of them, probably overuse them. With a pick, I've simply gotten a bit better at accenting an alternated up-stroke, to get the triplets rolling, but I've also started doing this odd thing between my thumb-down-up stroking with a finger-frail stroke thrown in. It's do-able with a flatpick and a finger. My question is, anybody do this? What is it? Sounds like something I've heard before, but I wonder is it a named flamenco sort of strum, or anything? Any other such things?

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 03:28 PM

Fred.......sorry for the drift, but are you from the Grand Rapids, Michigan area?

Mick

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 10:38 AM

No Mick, but it raises my eyebrow that you ask. Are triplet strumming issues regional? Did I use an odd expression? I'm in Louisville, and don't mind drift. I'm pro-drift, it seems natural.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 12:31 PM

Nope, Fred, but I know a musician by the name of Fred Miller that I would love to see become a part of this community. He is from my home area of Grand Rapids, Michigan. That is why I asked.

Back to the topic now, but thanks for the reply.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 02:54 PM

The king of the triplets, in any form, flatpicked or finger-picked, is Tony McManus. He can do them on any string with a fast index-middle-ring finger roll, and just for good measure, can do lightning-fast triplets on the bass strings with just his thumbnail.

For a sample of his technique,(although not the most stunning example) give a listen to his MP3 Jackie Coleman's Set

Murray

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST,Folkmonster
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 07:27 PM

I'd check out Dick Gaughan who *is* the king ;O) check the uk.music.folk forum on www.deja.com (google groups) and ask him - he's always helpful.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 07:52 PM

Not decrying Dick Gaughan as a guitarist, Tony McManus acknowledges him as an influence, but Gaughan's technique is limited to flatpicking, at which he is extremely good, but, let's be serious, even as a flatpicker, he cannot be compared to McManus.

Murray

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST,Folkmonster
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 08:02 PM

OK. Maybe. But Mr Gaughan was there first, and did it with most b*lls ;O)

ALthough when I asked hime once years ago how he did those triplets and stuff on 'Coppers and Brass' he said 'Lot's o' practice'. At least I *think* that's what he said...

FM

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 10:27 AM

You've GOT to hear Howie Birsten, on either banjo or guitar!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 03:48 PM

Dave O, a search for "Howie Birsten" in Google yields the message
"Your search - Howie Birsten - did not match any documents".
Have you spelled his name correctly or is he just incredibly eclectic?

Murray

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:01 PM

My face is red.

Search for Howie (or maybe you would find it as Howard) Bursen. He has at least one CD available on Folk Legacy Records, called "Banjo Manikin", and I think possibly another one. Also a tape, "Cider in the Kitchen", also from Folk Legacy.

Wonderful, clean picking, in fantastic control. And a voice and singing style that are clear, clean, and under control to go with it.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:13 PM

You have aroused my curiosity, I shall investigate further. Always delighted to hear about about really good lesser-known pickers....

Murray

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST,Fred Miller
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:21 PM

Thanks, I don't know any of these people, better check it out.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:22 PM

Look him up at:

http://www.folklegacy.com/cd/american.htm

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 04:28 PM

Or even better, Howie and his wife's website:

http://www.sallyrogers.com/howie/howies_music.html

This website lists all of his tapes and CDs, with cover shots and publishers.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST,Fred Miller
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 10:59 AM

Murray, I enjoyed that quite a bit, but it's really strumming that gave me special trouble, and I'm looking into. But the thumbnail thing is similar to what I'm doing--it's almost a sweep arpeggio down-up with the thumb while a finger, usually my middle does a down with the thumb-downstroke, then up slightly off-synch with the thumb up. I almost can't tell what I'm doing anymore but it rolls very easy and fast, sounds crazy on a mandolin. I'm thinking I've heard something like it in flamenco stuff, I don't know.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 08:07 PM

Fred, FWIW, Tony McManus did tell me that he had borrowed the "vibrating thumb" technique from flamenco players.

Murray

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST,Fred Miller
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 10:18 AM

Interesting bit. I use a pick that folds over the side edge of my thumb, puts a ridge there. I'll have to listen to some more of him, these guys, for what they're doing. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Sam L
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 04:46 PM

The other day I saw an Andean musician doing my triplet strum on a Charango (sp?), except he did it with two fingers in a claw-like way. I don't know enough about clawhammer tech to know if it may be common, but it works about the same as my thumb-and-finger method. He didn't have a name for it, called it tremolo.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From:
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 01:46 AM

I would like to learn guitar triplet strumming techniques. So please forward it to e-mail.

Thank you

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST,Susan
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 02:39 PM

Please explain what triplet strumming techniqes are. I'm trying to learn different guitar strum patterns.

Peace,
Susan

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Declan
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 02:48 PM

Slight thread drift here but a friend of mine met Barney McKenna (Banjo player with the Dubliners) the other day in Howth. My friend also plays banjo and Mandolin. He asked Barney how he held the plectrum.

Barney advised my friend to hold the plectrum between the thumb and first finger and to cup it with his hand. His advice on how tightly to hold the plectrum was to think of it as a tiny bird between your fingers - hold it too tightly and you will strangle it, but too loosely and it will fly away. This sounded like good advice to me.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 11:20 PM

I always admired the way Dick Gaughan flat-picked triplets on "Coppers & Brass." However, being a finger-picker, I was not able to do that. I figured out a way to imitate the triplets using my thumb and index fingers, alternating. I just used that technique for the measure or two requiring the triplets, then went back to regular finger-picking patterns. The classical tremolo technique didn't work for me.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 03:51 AM

Hi, Susan. A triplet is a musical effect where we fit three notes into the time usually taken by one beat. For example, here's a link to the old song "They didn't believe me."

http://members.fortunecity.com/casey/music/theydidntbelieveme.mid

If you're acquainted with this song, then listen for the words, "and when I tell them - and I'm certainly going to tell them..." The word "certainly" is a triplet.

Here is how I time them. Suppose a song is in 4/4 time. Count 1 2 3 4 steadily for a while, patting your knee or tapping your foot. To hear a triplet, substitute the word "wonderful" for one of the beats like this: 1 won-der-ful 3 4. Make sure the word takes up the same amount of time as the other beats - that's where the tapping helps.

Out of idle curiousity I just picked up a guitar and did this, and I found it so easy that I don't understand why there's a thread on it, so maybe guitarists use triplet to mean something special. Or perhaps they are talking about doing a triplet while playing a melody on the guitar - I was just strumming.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 02:30 PM

learning to play tenor banjo , using sullys picking techniques which involve alot of cross picking , is apretty good way to master flat picking then tune your topthree strings on the guitar like a TENOR banjo E A D D A E. Apart fromthe stretch being alittle more its a piece of cake, .

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: s&r
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 04:46 AM

I think the problem with strumming triplets described by many people may be 6/8 strumming, where the problem with alternate picking is that the second group of three starts with an upstroke which is harder to emphasize. DUD UDU

Stu

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 01:35 PM

Aaccording to two different banjo tutors, they should be emphasised D U D, D U D. That way you get the correct emphasis for 6/8.on the first and fourth beats where you normally tap your foot.

Subject: RE: Triplet strumming techniques
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 12:41 PM

For info:

Tony McManus's approach to triplets differs according to the string. For the top three strings (generally) he uses ami (ring, middle, index) which is the classic tremolo method. For the lower strings he finds a lack of clarity with this method, and so uses either thumb, index, thumb (or index, thumb, index) or the aforementioned down-up-down with the thumb.

Cheers
Cookie