HOW DO EIGHTH NOTE TRIPLETS WORK IN 9/8?

9 on 8 time means there are nine notes per measure and each eight note gets one count. It is time
a Compound Time Signature and a great novelty among Cameroonian Musicians and the
representation of some songs. It is one of the most confused time signatures in music, as its
similarity to 3 on 4 and 6 on 8 can only be compared to that of inseparable first cousins.

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Amidst this similarity is an enormous and technical difference, which if note carefully observed,
one will fall into the temptation of thinking that 9 on 8, 6 on 8 and 3 on 4 are writing, counted or
played the same. Seasoned musicians have fallen into the afore-stated difficulty, but it takes just a
little more attention and technical caution and observation to ascertain the difference.

The most common part of Cameroon with songs of this time signature is the Ewondo, Beti and
Fang clans etc., of the Centre regions with songs like None Mentuge Mame, Mayebe Zambe,
Mazua Tara, and the Gloria of the Mass of Our Lady of Grace by Francis Ndichia etc have been
written and rendered wrongly as a result. All the above songs and more are 9 on 8 songs and
nothing short of that.

To ease this confusion and plight, Musicians and scholars should think of 9 on 8 as 9 8th notes (9
quavers) in a bar or better still,

3/8 + 3/8 + 3/8.

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As a result of the above mathematical breakdown 9 on 8, one can comfortably think of 9 on 8 as 3
on 4, but when this is done, one has to put quarter notes (crochets) in groups of 3s, i.e. triplets.
Therefore, there will be three groups of 3s (crochets) in this time signature as seen below:

Triplets

3 3 3

3 3 3

l:l:l l:l:l l:l:l

As seen underneath the staff example above, 9 on 8 will have 3 beats, each consisting of one triplet
and therefore be counted as (1+uh(a) 2+uh(a) 3+uh(a)). It could also be counted as 9 separate
beats (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9).

Note worthy is the fact that:

1. Its unmusical to write a 9 on 8 song with triplets since its a compound, so you had rather
used 3 on 4 together with the triplets
2. Three eighth note (quaver note ) triplets have the value of a quarter note (Crochet not)

Further Practice:

Mass of the Holy Family of Nazareth By Bua Nyoh Bertrand

9/8 is the triplet version of 3/4

By: Bua Nyoh Bertrand

For further questions, worries and clarification, contact me @
Email: mcnyoh@gmail.com
Tel : +237 670003253
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