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Machine Gun Triplets

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In this course we’re going to be looking at an unusual rhythmic device known as the ‘machine gun triplet’. This is essentially a very fast triplet, made possible by splitting the work between the two hands. Machine gun triplets have been used by many bass players over the years, but are probably most closely associated with Mark King, bassist with Level 42. Mark uses these triplets most often in his live solos, but they also occasionally crop up in his recorded lines as well. Les Claypool also uses them quite extensively, and good examples can be found in classic Primus tracks such as 'Lacquer Head' and 'Tommy the Cat'. Other bass players who have used these fast triplets include Stu Hamm, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten and P-Nut.

1 - Machine Gun Triplets

In this video we discuss what machine gun triplets are, and where you can hear some good examples of them.

2 - Machine Gun Triplet Pattern #1

In this video we will be looking at the first of two patterns for playing machine gun triplets.

3 - Exercise #3

This exercise puts the first machine gun triplet pattern to use. After the two-beat figure in each bar, the machine gun triplet is played as an accent. As you'll see from this exercise, machine gun triplets work well off of open strings.

4 - Exercise #4

In this exercise we'll be using the first machine gun triplet pattern from fretted notes. As you'll see, they work just as well, although you'll need to be careful to fret notes with your first finger, leaving the other three free for the fretting hand slap.

5 - Machine Gun Triplet Pattern #2

In this video we will be looking at the second pattern for playing machine gun triplets.

6 - Exercise #6

In this exercise, the second machine gun triplet pattern is used at the beginning of each bar. This is done with both fretted notes and open strings.

7 - Exercise #7

This exercise opens with two beats of the second machine gun triplet pattern. This then leads into a slap groove in the second and fourth bars, which features the fretting hand 'bouncing' between the slapped notes.

8 - Exercise #8

This exercise is in the key of G minor and uses the first machine gun triplet pattern with fretted notes.

9 - Exercise #9

This exercise has a quick tempo and is a lot of fun to play. The first and third bars open with a chord tone-based figure that uses the second machine gun triplet pattern.

10 - Exercise #10

This exercise uses the first pattern from fretted notes and features some difficult fingerings moving from the first to the second beat. The line also features some sliding octave figures in the style of Marcus Miller.

11 - Exercise #11

This busy exercise was written in the style of Mark King's early work with Level 42. Both machine gun triplet patterns are used here.

12 - Exercise #12

This is another complex exercise which uses the first machine gun triplet pattern. This line also includes some popped 'double stops' - two notes played together. These are covered in detail in another course in this series.