Hard time with triplets

[dasher]

Trying to play triplets is really making my head hurt! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to learn to play/count triplets to make it easier?

Playing one triplet in a measure isn't that bad, but two triplets over four beats is really quite hard for me.

Thanks!

[kcp]

...Playing one triplet in a measure isn't that bad, but two triplets over four beats is really quite hard for me.

If you can play one triplet, you can play two and more. It's just that you haven't got quite the hang of doing it yet. I suggest that you practice triplets using a metronome (If you aren't using one already)

Start slowly. You may want to start-off by playing just one triplet at a time, let 4 beat pass and play another one to get the hang of it, and then gradually try to play them closer, like wait 2 beats in between and so on until you are able to play them sucessively. Gradually add some speed to your metronome and try to play as many triplets successively as you can.

Hope this helps :D

[rollen]

think/say the word blueberry as you play them.

[disgruntleddave]

once you can play one even triplet, then you should try putting the accent on the first note of each three. so if you were using the word tri-po-let for your counting, it would be like TRI-po-let TRI-po-let or whatever other word you are using. Once you can properly accentuate the beats i think it will become easier.

[Steve J.]

To play triplets accurately you simply have to subdivide the beat in triplets. For instance in 4/4 time you would subdivide the beats as
123 223 323 423 and play the triplet notes on the subdivision as illustrated:
half note triplets - 123 223 323 423
quarter note triplets - 123 223 323 423

IMHO the previous posts are ways to guess at the proper timing and are innacurate. In the top level ensembles players play together with accurate timing because they are all sharing a subdivided feel.
I feel this is the proper way to learn to play triplets and gain the coordinated sensitivity to the pulse to acheive a higher level sense of time so important to high quality music.

[rollen]

this site might help clear things up:

http://www.musictheory.halifax.ns.ca/19triplets.html

[Steve J.]

Unfortunately, this site refers to notating triplets not performing them accurately. This rudimentary explanation is good. It simply explains and verifies that you can subdivide a beat in twos, threes, fours, fives, 11ths, whatever. Performing the rhythms accurately is a different discussion.

[BandNerd]

When playing triplets just think 'tri-pi-let tri-pi-let tri-pi-let'. Once you get the hang of it it'll be easier-- just remember 1 beat=three notes. When counting, it'll be 1-and-uh, 2-and-uh, 3-and-uh.

[Andrew]

I agree with saying the word blueberry or the word trip-oh-let to a metronome. This is how I learned it.

[Gandalfe]

Ah yes blueberry, pumpkin pie, or chocolate. They work but you are hungry an hour later. :D

[Andrew]

:dazed: oooohhh soooo hunnnngggrryyyy

[Tort]

I learned to count triplets:

1-trip-let 2-trip-let 3-trip-let 4-trip-let (as in 4 )
4

[/list][/b]

[Amy]

I was taught to use the word el-e-phant.

[Paul Coats]

First, learn to play 8th note triplets in 4/4.

1 trip let 2 trip let 3 trip let 4 trip let

Get the feel, get comfortable with it.

Easy!

Now, to learn to play quarter note triplets, that is, three quarters that are in the space of two beats, count 8th triplets in your head, and slur the first two 8th notes, the next two 8th notes, and the last two 8th notes.

Here is how you would play 6 quarter note triplets in a 4/4 measure (the lines are slur marks):

____ ___ _____ ____ ____ _____
1 trip let 2 trip let 3 trip let 4 trip let

[Gordon (NZ)]

Ah yes blueberry, pumpkin pie, or chocolate. They work but you are hungry an hour later. :D

"Pineapplepineapplepineapplepineappl......"

[Gordon (NZ)]

Playing one triplet in a measure isn't that bad, but two triplets over four beats is really quite hard for me.

Instead of the four (fast beats "1-2-3-4") think of it as two slow beats (1-&-2-&, but do not focus on the confusing 'ands'). Then do one triplet for each of these two slow beats.

As you get used to it you will discover that the confusing 'ands' are actually positioned in time exactly between the 2nd and third note of each triplet, and this will offer assurance rather than confusion.

You have to find a method for your particular brain. We all think rather differently.