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Topic: Swing triplets (Read 4217 times) previous topic - next topic

Swing triplets

When notating jazz scores it's customary to simplify the tedious continuous swing couplets (triplets composed by 1/4+1/8) by notating them as 1/8+1/8 or 1/8 dotted+1/16. The problem is when NWC plays them; it plays exactly as written.
The solution is to create a hidden staff with the real triplets for the sound.
Manually changing what usually are a lot of couplets is very tedious. Work for a tool!
This tool does indeed right that.

Copy the jazz-standard notated staff to another staff to be hidden.
Apply the tool to the latter and at least 98% of the work is done.

The tool can work also on a clip.
In that case be aware that it assumes the clip starts at a crotchet boundary; that is: at a beat start.

Re: Swing triplets

Reply #1 –
I have seen another technique for accomplishing swing rhythm, which also uses a hidden staff, but doesn't require the main staff be muted. Namely, the hidden staff contains rests and tempo changes. I wonder whether anyone has created a user tool for doing it this way.

Now, wouldn't it be neat if there were a way for a custom object to insert tempo changes into the stream on the fly somehow...

Re: Swing triplets

Reply #2 –
If the notation has 1/8+1/8 then a simple periodic tempo variance can work.
For exmple:
Code: (nwc) [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposerClip(2.751,Single)
|Tempo|Tempo:165|Pos:10
|TimeSig|Signature:AllaBreve
|Tempo|Base:Eighth Dotted|Tempo:165|Pos:10|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Tempo|Base:Quarter Dotted|Tempo:165|Pos:10|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Tempo|Base:Eighth Dotted|Tempo:165|Pos:10|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Tempo|Base:Quarter Dotted|Tempo:165|Pos:10|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Tempo|Base:Eighth Dotted|Tempo:165|Pos:10|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Tempo|Base:Quarter Dotted|Tempo:165|Pos:10|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Tempo|Base:Eighth Dotted|Tempo:165|Pos:10|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Tempo|Base:Quarter Dotted|Tempo:165|Pos:10|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:8th
!NoteWorthyComposerClip-End
But it doesn't work for 1/8 dotted+1/16 and with the real triplets.
I think the object approach, if feasible, could have the same drawback.

Re: Swing triplets

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Flurmy –
If the notation has 1/8+1/8 then a simple periodic tempo variance can work.
<snip>
But it doesn't work for 1/8 dotted+1/16 and with the real triplets.
I think the object approach, if feasible, could have the same drawback.
This is the technique I generally use.
Normally, I add local repeats and just repeat it for the number of bars in the song.
However, sometimes it it appropriate to insert the bar over and over for the full length of the song (primarily to help keep track of where you are WRT the other parts), and when there are changes that are not "swung", like the afore mentioned triplets, just have a portion of the bar with a straight tempo, then back to the alternating tempo marks.

Of course, this doesn't work so well if the section has triplets for some instruments and swung quavers for other instruments.

And sometimes I don't bother altering the tempo changes for triplets, 'cos I need the printed chart to be right, I don't need the playback to be "perfect" just for the odd triplet.
I plays 'Bones, crumpets, coronets, floosgals, youfonymums 'n tubies.

Re: Swing triplets

Reply #4 –
Yes, Lawrie, I do that too sometimes when it's most convenient.

For example, with "In the mood" for full orchestra it was much simpler to do that way.
Too many staves to copy and modify, in special mode without my tool.  :D

Re: Swing triplets

Reply #5 –
Having had to deal with a lot of "swings", too many couplets still needed manual adjustment  O:) , so I <sligtly modified>  ;D  my tool.
I expanded the number of different patterns automatically tripletized.
You can find the new version in the first message of this thread.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing...  :P

Re: Swing triplets

Reply #6 –
Tool updated.
Now the accidentals and the attributes are not replicated in each tied note.