Embedded Files
8.1 What is a triplet?
8.1 What is a triplet?
Up until this point, we have been dividing the beat into 2 or 4 equal sections (eighth notes or sixteenth notes). Beats can also be divided by other numbers as well, including 3, 5, 7, and so on.
When the beat is divided into three equal sections, or the measure or some kind of count is divided equally by 3, we call that rhythm a triplet. You can have eighth note triplets that divide one beat into three sections, quarter note triplets that take two beats and divide them into three equal sections, and even half note triplets that divide four beats into three equal sections. . The first kind we are going to learn how to count are eighth note triplets.
8.2 Eighth Note Triplets
8.2 Eighth Note Triplets
When one quarter note is divided evenly into three sections, and each of those sections are articulated, the result is an eighth note triplet.
In the image above, you can see that the three eighth notes making up the triplet are connected by a beam and have the number 3 written by it.
To count the eighth note triplet, we are going to use the syllables 1-trip-let. You can abbreviate the syllables to the following:
When counting the eighth note triplet, you can think of saying the word "blueberry" in one beat of time.
Let's do an example together.
The first measure is made up of all quarter notes, which is review. Go ahead and write in the counts for the first measure.
In the second measure, we see our new rhythm, the eighth note triplet. Begin by writing the number 1 under the first rhythm you see in the measure, as we have done in the past.
That first eighth note only takes up 1/3 of the beat of music. We know this because it is beamed with two other eighth notes and there is a 3 by the beam. Now that we are dividing beats into thirds, we will have to use pie graphs that are split into three sections.
Since only 1/3 of the beat has been used, the next syllable we will have to write is the "trip" or the letter "T".
2/3 of the beat are now accounted for. The last eighth note in beat 1 will have to get the "let" syllable, or just the letter "L".
You can complete the rest of the measure on your own since it is completely made up of eighth note triplets.
The third measure uses the triplet rhythm again and quarter notes. Write the counts in for measure 3.
And the final measure is made up of more eighth note triplets and quarter notes. Write in the counts.
Count and clap the exercise.
If you encounter eighth note triplets mixed with eighth rests, you will treat the eighth rests as if they are 1/3 of the beat, just like an eighth note would be.
The only difference would be the addition of the parenthesis around the syllables for the rests.
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 8.1
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 8.1
Eighth note triplets and rests
Page updated
Report abuse