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Slap Bass – Machine Gun Triplets

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This course covers 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'.

If you require additional help with any of the techniques used in this piece, the following courses (all included in the monthly subscription cost) should prove useful:

Don’t forget to hit the Download Resources button above to get the PDF worksheet and audio files for this piece (available to subscribers only). The worksheet is available with TAB and without, for those who wish to give their reading skills a workout.

This course is 52 MINUTES long and contains the following videos, each of which can be selected from the video player above:

1. Machine Gun Triplets

This video explains the concepts behind machine gun triplets. As you’ll discover, they rely rather heavily on the use of fretting hand slaps.

2. Machine Gun Triplet Pattern #1

There are two patterns for playing machine gun triplets. This video covers the first, which is T – LH – T. This triplet is often followed by a popped note.

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.

4. Exercise #4

In this exercise the first machine gun triplet pattern is played from fretted notes rather than an open string. As you'll see, they work just as well.

5. Machine Gun Triplet Pattern #2

This video covers the second pattern for playing machine gun triplets, which is P – LH – T. This is the pattern that Mark King often uses in his bass solos.

6. Exercise #6

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

7. Exercise #7

The second pattern is repeated throughout the first two beats in this exercise. This then leads into a slap groove in the second and fourth bars.

8. Exercise #8

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

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. 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.