The Transport LEDs indicate:

Row 1. Time Signature – and current Beat in the bar when playing.

Row 2. The Length of the Motif – and current Bar in the Motif when playing.

(Row 1 and 2 are identical in LISTEN and PRACTICE Mode.)

Row 3 in LISTEN MODE: The Number of Steps selected to listen to the Reference Rhythm transforming into a Tuplet – and current Step when playing
(all LEDs in green).

Row 3 in PRACTICE MODE: Practice Configuration & the Number of Segment Repeats selected – and current Segment when playing (green & red LEDs).

Indicate Time Signature – and current Beat in the bar when playing.

Three LEDs = 3/4, four LEDs = 4/4, five LEDs = 5/4 and seven LEDs = 7/4.

When in Play Mode, the LEDs light up one at a time – showing current beat in the bar. The first beat in the bar is indicated by red, the others by green.

Indicate the Length of the Motif – and current Bar in the Motif when playing.

One LED indicates a 1-bar motif. Two LEDs indicate a 2-bar motif – and four LEDs a 4-bar motif.

In Play Mode, the current bar LED lights up.
(The picture above shows a 4-bar motif with the third bar currently playing.)

The color of the selected motif (see 3.3.4 Motif Menu) also becomes the color of the Motif Length LED Indicators.

A dot below one of the LEDs indicates the Starting Bar in the selected Bar Motif Combination. Default is bar #1 of the motif, but variations can be set up (see 3.7.1 Motif Part Selector).

Indicate over how many Steps you have selected to listen to the Reference Rhythm transforming into a Tuplet – and current Step when playing.

If you select for example 8 steps with the Transformation Steps Selector, there will be 8 green LEDs indicating this – lighting up one at a time. LED #1 = step #1 etc.
(step #2 currently playing in the picture above)

(In Practice Mode, row 3 changes to Practice Configuration & Segment Repeats LED Indicators.)

Indicate Practice Configuration & the number of Segment Repeats selected – and current Segment when playing.

Green LEDs indicate bars to listen to. Red LEDs indicate gaps for you to fill in (by imitating what you just heard).

Current segment LED lights up when playing.
(2nd segment currently playing in the picture above.)

See also

3.4.3 Practice Configuration

3.4.4 Practice Configuration Segment Repeats

(In Listen Mode, row 3 changes to Transformation Steps LED Indicators.)

Time Signature Selector
Tap to open the Time Signature Menu. Tap again to select time signature. (3/4, 4/4, 5/4 or 7/4)

Changing time signature updates the Tuplet Menu – each time signature has a different set of tuplets.

Also, the last tuplet you used for that time signature is selected automatically.

Tuplet Selector
Tap to open the Tuplet Menu. Tap again to select Tuplet.

There are four different sets of tuplets – one for each Time Signature.

Changing tuplet updates the motif menu, and automatically selects the last motif you used with that tuplet.

Motif Selector
Tap to open the Motif Menu – tap again to select Motif.

Each tuplet has its own set of motifs. If the motif is more than one bar long, a number in brackets indicates Bar Length. Different colors indicate different Categories. (read more under 3.3.4 Motif Menu and 3.7.1 Motif Part Selector)

The Motif Menu contains various lists of motifs depending on both the selected Time Signature and the selected Tuplet.

The picture shows the Motif List for 7 over 5.

Motif R is lit, indicating that it is selected. If the motif consists of more than one bar, there is a number in brackets to the right of the motif’s name. The number indicates the length of the motif – in this case four bars. The motifs can be one, two or four bars long.

The colors indicate categories of motif.

The categories are:

Row 1: GREY
1-bar motifs that reflect the Main Group (MG) and Subgroups 1 & 2 (SG1 & SG2)

Row 2: PURPLE
1-bar motifs based on two pitches (high and mid)

Row 3: TURQUOISE
1-bar motifs based on three pitches (high, mid and low)

Row 4: a MIX of purple and turquoise motifs

Row 5, 6 and 7 are motifs based on repetition of a melodic pattern. The motifs can be 1, 2 or 4 bars long.
(h = high pitch, m = mid pitch and l = low pitch)

Row 5: YELLOW
Pattern: High – Mid (repeatedly)
P: ONE stroke on each (h, m etc.)
Q: TWO strokes on each (h-h, m-m etc.)
R: THREE strokes on each (h-h-h, m-m-m etc.)

Row 6: ORANGE
Pattern: High – Mid – Low (repeatedly)
S: ONE stroke on each (h, m, l etc.)
T: TWO strokes on each (h-h, m-m, l-l etc.)
U: THREE strokes on each (h-h-h, m-m-m, l-l-l etc.)

Row 6: PINK
Pattern: High – Mid – Low – Mid (repeatedly)
V: ONE stroke on each (h, m, l, m etc.)
W: TWO strokes on each (h-h, m-m, l-l, m-m etc.)
X: THREE strokes on each (h-h-h, m-m-m, l-l-l, m-m-m etc.)

The exercises P to X are very effective to get a deeper understanding of the Tuplet. More about this under 3.7.1 Motif Part Selector.

All menus contain MG, SG1, SG2 and A to X buttons. All Tuplets don't actually have all of those motifs – missing motifs are greyed out.

Play/Stop Button
Tap to Play – the button changes to ◼︎
Tap again to Stop – the button changes to ►

Transformation Steps
Tap to open the Transformation Steps Menu.

A Step has the same length as the length of the selected motif – which can be 1, 2 or 4 bars.

The menu contains five choices: 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 steps. Tap to select a number of steps to listen to the Reference Rhythm gradually transform into a Tuplet.

The selected Number of Steps is shown by the label on the Transformation Steps Selector button (and also indicated by the Steps LEDs).

The transformation start & end points are affected by the Quantization and Swing controls settings and the following example provides that the Reference Quantization (3.6.2) and Tuplet Quantization (3.6.3) are set to 0 and 100 respectively – and Swing Factor (3.6.5) is set to 0.

Example:
Selecting 8 steps results in the Reference Rhythm played exactly as notated in step #1. Then – from step #2 to step #7 – gradually transforming (evened out more and more), and in step #8 as a perfect tuplet (totally evened out).

When selecting 1 step, the Reference Quantization and Tuplet Quantization Controls disappear and are replaced by one control – the Motif Quantization Control (3.6.4) – that makes it possible to freeze the transformation process at a certain point.

Listen/Practice Mode button
Tap to switch between Listen Mode and Practice Mode (white letters indicate the selected mode).

In LISTEN MODE you can listen to the rhythms gradually transforming from a Reference Rhythm into a Tuplet over a number of Steps that you select (see 3.4.1 Transformation Steps).

In PRACTICE MODE you can practice the rhythms in different Practice Configurations
(see 3.4.3 Practice Configuration).

Practice Configuration Selector
Tap to open the Menu.

There are four Configurations to choose from and the idea is for you to fill in the Blanks (empty bars) by imitating what you hear.

Tap again to select Practice Configuration.

One bar of the Reference Rhythm and one Blank.


One bar of the Tuplet and one Blank.


Reference Rhythm – Blank – Tuplet – Blank.


Reference Rhythm – Tuplet – Blank – Blank.

The Practice Configuration interacts with the Practice Configuration Repeats (3.4.4), making it possible to repeat the segments in the configuration.

Example: selecting R – T – together with x 2 will result in R R – – T T – –

Practice Configuration Repeats Selector

Tap to open the Menu. Tap again to select Number of Repeats (x1, x2 or x4).

Example:
After having selected “R –” as Configuration, (set with the Practice Configuration Selector 3.4.3) “x 2” results in playing EACH SEGMENT in the practice configuration twice (i.e. R R – –).

BPM Selector (Beats Per Minute). Here you adjust the tempo.

Tap – to lower the tempo and + to raise it by one BPM at a time. Press and hold to lower or raise by 10 BPMs at a time.

The label in the middle shows current tempo (BPM value). If altered, double-tap the label to reset to the default BPM for the current Tuplet.

After selecing Tuplet to practice on – tap the Lessons button to open the Lessons Window.

The Lessons, describing what to do and in what order, will help you understand and get into the method.

You can either select from the menu or flip through the pages with the arrows at the top.

“A. Basic exercises” lesson 1 – 7 will take you through the basics of the method.

“B. 2-bar motif exercises” give advice on how to practice the 2-bar motifs.

“C. 4-bar motif exercises” give advice on how to practice the 4-bar motifs.

When you are ready, tap GO! to run the exercise.

TUPLET TRAINER keeps track on your last lesson for each tuplet.

The Reference, Tuplet, and Motif Quantization, as well as the Swing Factor settings affect the shape of the rhythm.

In LISTEN MODE you set the shape of the Reference Rhythm (in step #1) with the Reference Quantization Control, and the shape of the Tuplet (in the last step) with the Tuplet Quantization Control.

In PRACTICE MODE this corresponds to what happens when selecting 2 steps in Listen Mode
(i.e. the Reference Rhythm stays in the shape as defined with the Reference Quantization Control and the Tuplet as defined with the Tuplet Quantization Control all the time).

When selecting 1 step in LISTEN MODE the Reference Quantization and Tuplet Quantization Controls disappear and are replaced by the Motif Quantization Control. This mode makes it possible to freeze the transformation process. You simply listen to the rhythm with the degree of quantization you want for the moment – and for as long as you like.

The Reference Quantization Control sets the amount of quantization you want to apply to the selected Reference Rhythm - the higher the number, the more the reference rhythm resembles the target tuplet.

The Ref Q control is available in Practice Mode, and in Listen Mode when Transformation Steps is set to more than “1”.

In LISTEN MODE the Ref Q control (as well as the Tuplet Q control) interacts with the Transformation Steps Selector (3.4.1) in so far as ...

in Step #1 the transformation begins starting from the chosen Ref Q value and ends in the last Step at the chosen Tuplet Q value – gradually and proportionately transformed in relation to the number of Steps selected.

In PRACTICE MODE there's no transformation process. The Ref Q value is a fixed value.

Use the slider control to adjust the Ref Q.
Or tap + or – buttons to change value by 1 at a time, or press and hold the buttons to change by 5 at a time. (Range 0–50 %. 0 % = the Reference Rhythm exactly as notated.)

The label to the right shows current value. If altered, double-tap the label to switch to Default Value for the Reference Rhythm.

The Tuplet Quantization Control sets the amount of quantization you want to apply to the Tuplet.

In LISTEN MODE the Tuplet Q control interacts with the Transformation Steps selector (3.4.1) as described under 3.6.2 Ref Q.

In PRACTICE MODE there's no transformation process. The Tuplet Q value is a fixed value.

Use the slider control to adjust the Tuplet Q.
Or tap + or – buttons to change value by 1 at a time, or press and hold to change by 5 at a time. (Range 51–100 %. 100 % = the Tuplet exactly as notated.)

The label to the right shows current value. If altered, double-tap the label to switch to Default Value for the Tuplet.

The Motif Quantization Control (appears in LISTEN MODE only) sets the amount of quantization you want to apply to the Motif when listening in 1 step Mode. When set to “0” you will hear the perfect reference rhythm, when set to “100”, the perfect tuplet.

Use the slider control to adjust the Motif Q. Or tap + or – buttons to change value by 1 at a time, or press and hold to change by 5 at a time. (Range 0–100 %.)

The label to the right shows current value. If altered, double-tap the label to switch to Default Value for the Motif.

With the Swing Factor Control you can add “Swing” (or “Triplet Feel”) to the selected Reference Rhythm.

Under certain conditions it also affects the Metronome and the Grooves. When a Tuplet with less beats than the total amount of 8th notes possible in the Time Signature is selected, the Metronome and the Groove will go along with the Swing Factor setting. Example: In 4/4 the Swing Factor will affect Metronome and Groove when selecting 5 or 7 over 4. But from 9 and up, the Swing Factor only affects the Reference Rhythm.

Use the slider control to adjust Swing Factor.
Or tap + or – buttons to change value by 1 at a time, or press and hold to change by 5 at a time. (Range 0–100 %, where 0 % has no effect on the rhythm)

The label to the right shows current value. If altered, double-tap the label to switch to default value.

Authors comment:
The straight Reference Rhythms tend to function better to start from when transforming to a Tuplet, but in two cases I've found it easier with swing feel (4 and 5 over 3), which is why they appear that way as default when selecting those.
“Swing feel” in real life doesn't always correspond to the result you get with the Swing Factor control. Human beings transform rhythms from straight to swing intuitively, not mathematically as in the app. Therefore, for two of the Tuplets (5 over 4, and 7 over 4) there are two alternatives. A with straight feel and B with swing feel as default. This way the rhythms correspond better to a “human” result.

The Motif Part selector contains one button for each bar of the selected Motif.

When a 4-bar motif is selected, four buttons will appear (1- or 2-bar motifs give one or two buttons respectively).

Button #1 in the picture, is slightly bigger than the other, indicating that bar #1 is the STARTING BAR of the motif.
In Play Mode the buttons light up to show current bar playing (bar #3 currently playing in the picture).

Tap any button to select only that part (bar) of the Motif.

Tapping, for example, button #3 results in a selection of bar #3 only (the button becomes slightly bigger – and the rest in dark grey).
This way it's possible to play and practice bar #3 in the motif separately.

Pressing a button for 0.5-1 sec selects two bars in sequence, with the one you pressed as the starting bar.

Pressing button #3 for 0.5 sec gives this result.
Now you can practice bar #3 in combination with bar #4

or – when pressing button #4 for 0.5 sec,
practice bar #4 in combination with bar #1
(with bar #4 as the starting bar).

Pressing any of the four buttons longer than one second resets the motif to the full length.

Motifs P–X are built on repetition of a melodic pattern. The motifs can be one, two or four bars long.

These motifs/exercises are very effective to get a deeper understanding of the Tuplet.
If you can identify the Tuplet even when the melody shifts around, you've come a long way.

Sometimes, when the motifs have a Length of more than one bar, it may take some time to grasp them. If so, it's a good idea to split them up and practice one bar at a time and then successively put them back together.
A common problem is to keep orientation from one bar to another. Therefore, another good idea is to practice them in pairs.

The selectable set-ups for 4-bar motifs are:
1+2+3+4,     1+2,     2+3,     3+4,     4+1,  
1,   2,     3,     4

The selectable set-ups for 2-bar motifs are: 1+2,     2+1,     1,     2

Another benefit with the part selecting is that you get a new bunch of good 1-bar exercises.

Tap to open the Menu. Tap again to select.

Initially the menu contains two choices: “Default - straight” and “Default - swing”.

Changing the value of BPM, Ref Q, Tuplet Q, Motif Q, or Swing Factor will create a third choice in the menu for the current tuplet: “User setting”

You can switch back and forth between “Default – straight”, “Default – swing” and “User setting” in the menu without losing the stored “User setting”. However, manually changing BPM, Ref Q, Tuplet Q etc. back to the same values as “Default – straight” or “Default – swing” will erase “User setting” for the current tuplet.

Metronome Click Pattern Selector
Tap to open the Menu.

THE CLICK PATTERN MENU

Quarter notes
(white background indicates selected)

Eighth notes
accent on every other – starting on the first

Syncopated quarter notes
starting on the second eighth note in the bar

Eighth notes
accent on every other – starting on the second

(the latter two may be most useful in combination with the Groove patterns)

Tap to select a Click Pattern.

Count-In Selector
Tap to open the Menu.
(white background indicates selected)

Count-In Menu
(metronome section)

0 bars = no count-in
1 bar = one bar of count-in
2 bars = two bars of count-in

Tap to select Count-in (how many bars that should play before the selected tuplet starts playing).

Groove Pattern Selector
Tap to open the Menu.

(white background indicates selected)

Groove 1: basic
hi hat + bass drum
(white background indicates selected)

Groove 2: variation
hi hat + bass drum

Use the Groove Patterns to reinforce the feel of the Time Signature (turn on the Groove Section Mixer Channels).

See info under Main Page 3.3.5 Play/Stop Button

On top of the vertical Volume Faders (4.3.2) are the Volume Value Labels – showing individual volume values for the different mixer channels.

If you raise or lower the volume, the values on the labels changes correspondingly.

If altered, double-tapping a label resets the volume to the default value (75 %).

Adjust Volume individually for the sounds. Move the Sliders up or down to adjust.

From left:
Metronome section
– click
– accent
Groove section
– bass drum
– hi-hat
and rightmost
– pads
– master volume

If altered, double-tapping the value label on top of the slider resets the volume to the default value (75 %).

Tap to turn the Mixer Channels ON or OFF.
(lit green = ON, unlit green = OFF)

Metronome Click Sound Channel
(metronome section)

Accent Sound Channel
(metronome section) Accent = accent on the first beat of the bar

Bass Drum Sound Channel
(grooves section)

Hi-hat Sound Channel
(grooves section)

Pads Sound Channel
Pads Sound = the sound of the Motif (Low, Mid & High Pads on the Main Page are always on)

Tap Reset to reset ALL volume faders to the default values (75 %).

This is the Subgrouping Formula for 10 over 4.

The formula says:
The primary Main Formula is 5 + 5, and the 2nd Level Formula (a further subgrouping of the Main Formula) is 2+3 + 2+3.

Subgrouping makes it easier to perceive the Tuplet, and helps to guide you through it.
The more chunked up, the more control!

Subgrouping drastically increases control and is along with the use of an understandable rhythm (a Reference Rhythm), ONE OF THE TWO MAIN KEY CONCEPTS in the method!

The formula goes for the Tuplet (not the reference rhythm).

When playing a tuplet, it's extremely helpful to hear and feel it as consisting of different parts (subgroups) instead of a series of equivalent beats.

You should always keep the Formula in mind when playing the Tuplet. I.e. you should always feel the Tuplet as a specific combination of smaller parts.

Don't confuse subgrouping with the pitch variations in the different motifs.
ALWAYS STICK TO THE GIVEN FORMULA
– NO MATTER THE MELODY!!!

When you start to learn the method, don't think too much of the given Subgroup Formulas, just follow the steps under 6.3 Summary.

Read more under 7. Subgrouping

Thin (dotted) grid lines divide the Notation in Quarter Note Areas. This can be turned off under “menu” –> “Show notation grid lines” .

Immediately after the bar line is a small digit indicating the Bar Number.

Tap in the UPPER HALF of the notation to switch between showing the motif as a Reference Rhythm or Tuplet.

If the motif consists of more than one bar, the notation scrolls to the relevant bar automatically when Tuplet Trainer is playing.
In Stop mode you can use the Motif Part Selector to switch between the different Bar Motifs, or scroll manually in the LOWER HALF of the Notation.

In Play mode the note currently playing “flashes” (turns to grey).

The Brackets below the Notation describe the Subgrouping Formula.

The bottom brackets:
the Main formula (the large numbers in Subgrouping Formula above the motif).

The top brackets:
the 2nd Level Formula (the smaller numbers in parentheses in the Subgrouping Formula).