Triplet Pull-Off's

Lesson Goals:

♦ Learn technique for doing a triplet pull-off
♦ Practice playing triplet pull-off's
♦ Locate possible triplet pull-off combinations

 

You may remember that a pull-off involves starting on one note and "pulling" off that note to a lower note on the same string.

With a normal pull-off you pick the note once but produce two notes as you complete the pull-off.

With a "triplet" pull-off you are, in essence, doing the same thing except that you will be playing three notes instead of two.

When performing a triplet pull-off, you start with one note, pick that note, then pull-off that note to a second note, then pull-off that second note and resolve on a third note.

The theory is exactly the same as a normal pull-off, only the execution is different because you are adding a third note. A triplet pull-off starts on one note and always winds up on a lower note on the same string.

By nature, a triplet will be played using three fingers. Which three are used depends on the position of the lick on the guitar neck, and where you are going to next, after the triplet pull-off.

There are many times you can incorporate "passing" notes into triplet pull-off's. The passing note is often played as the "in between" note.

Look below at an example of a triplet pull-off. We continue using the "A" blues scale with passing notes.

The above example will be played using the 1st, 3rd and 4th fingers. To play it you will start with your 4th finger on the 8th fret, but also place your 3rd and 1st fingers in the proper position to prepare. As you pick the note, pull-off with the 4th finger to the 3rd, and then while that note is still resonating, pull-off with the 3rd finger to the note on the 1st finger. It should happen fairly quickly.

 

 

Look at the next TAB below.

 

This is similar to the first example. This lick will also be played using the 1st, 3rd and 4th fingers. The first part of the lick starts up on the 11th fret and does a triplet that is the same fingering "pattern" as the previous example. Then the lick goes to another triplet pull-off that is identical to the previous example with a couple of notes added at the end. Give it a try.

 

 

Now look at the next TAB.

This one illustrates a triplet pull-off that is played using the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers. Take a moment to play it.

 

 

Now let's look again at the chart of the blues scale with passing notes. See if you can go through it and pick out some other combinations that would be good for triplet pull-off's.

 

Triplet pull-off's can be a little tricky at first, especially the ones that are played using the 4th (pinky) finger because that is the smallest and weakest one. It sometimes takes some finger "training" to get it smooth.