Tuplet Reading Trainer allows you to tap and hear in real time as well as reshape tuplets to help you get inside irregular rhythmic groupings. Controls is clickable and marker positions on the widget can be dragged around with your mouse. If you prefer a faster way of navigating and performing, you can also use your computer’s keyboard. The most frequently used commands are mapped to your keyboard for quick exploration.
To change to a different default tuplet ratio, hit 2, 3, 5, 6, or 7 on your keyboard immediately. Tap the L key to toggle subdivision wheel to the next preset. Tap C to perform a complete measure with the selected rhythm in place. Tap A to listen to how normal note values compares to their tuplet counterpart. Tap T to tap the tap pad when practicing. Finally, tap any of the orange markers on the timeline and use arrow keys to move them around as desired, then tap Space or Enter to play it back.
How to Use the Tuplet Reading Trainer
The ratio control center is on the left. The left side of interface becomes your ratio control center. There are several pre-sets for commonly used subdivisions such as duplets, triplets, quintuplets, sextuplets, and septuplet. You can select these from button rack or by clicking the larger wheel to cycle through them. To use a custom subdivision not available in the pre-sets, enter number of members into the custom fields along with the number of normal units and click the cut button to complete the process.
Below is an example of how the math work out between the overall duration and the space between each member. Above, you see the timeline with a draggable marker at every onset (in orange) along with the musical notation itself in the centre. As you change ratio, the notation will automatically update to reflect this new relationship. Dragging markers on the timeline allows you to alter them by hand if your feel isn’t exactly equal. Beneath the timeline are the individual members as tiles where you can turn any beat into a rest. This mean you have to keep the pulse of the subdividing beat going even if not all the notes plays.
You can hear and analyse the rhythm with several transport buttons. The conduct button plays through the pattern, using loud clicks for any active member and soft clicks for main beat. The compare button first plays the normal grid and then play the tuplet grid. It highlights the difference in density but does not change total duration. Finally, the true-up button will reset all of the markers to be exactly equal. This would of been useful if you’ve dragged them into an uneven rhythm and want to start fresh.
An internal clock exercise is provided at the bottom of the score. A demo pattern is heard as you start the echo-then-silent round. Next, you turn off sound for following measure. Each beat is placed in its correct position by striking the T key. Your accuracy is tracked along with your tendency to drag or rush. Median timing offset can also be viewed in scoreboard. It’s an objective way to get feedback about how well you’re carrying a subdivision mentally, without outside auditory support.
The sound rail at the very bottom allows you to fit the practice environment to your requirements. The quarter pulse slider lets you select tempo. Make sure it’s slow enough to execute accurately but fast enough to challenge you. Written unit selector switches between sixteenth notes and eighth notes. It alters parent span context. You can reduce click level if you prefer to rely more on your internal sense of timing than the auditory metronome.
So you pick a triplet, beat it out to feel the rhythm, then drag that middle marker a bit ahead of time and listen to how it affects the groove. Next, you select a quintuplet; now tap those second and third members out of phase with each other on rest. The next step is tapping in the remaining beats, ear in hand.
Now you’re ready for some fun: Use the custom ratio inputs to generate a crazy subdivision mess. Compare it to the regular grid to see where they aligns. Keep the tempo constant while exploring all the grouping possibilities. Maintain a reasonable volume level so you can keep track of everything.