Rhythm Challenge: Triplets

Can triplets appear in any time signature?

Yes, triplets can occur in any meter, on any beat, and even across multiple beats. You’re less likely to see triplets in compound meter, where the natural beat division is already in three. But each beat division can also be further subdivided into a triplet.

How do you play triplets with the appropriate feel?

You can learn to play triplets accurately with the same kind of practice used for all note values. Rhythm is learned in the body, not on the page. Clapping while saying the rhythm words out loud is the best way to learn that physicality.

What are rhythm words and how do they help with triplets?

Rhythm words are syllables that fit with certain rhythms and help students to perform them accurately. For quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes, here are some useful rhythm words:

Triplets require rhythm words that reinforce three equal sounds per beat. An excellent way to practice triplets is to alternate clapping a few beats of normal eighth notes with a few beats of triplets:

How can I train my ear to hear the difference between triplets and other three-note rhythms?

There are several three-note rhythms possible on a single beat, but what distinguishes a triplet is that all three notes are equal. Here are the combinations of normal eighth and sixteenth notes within a beat:

Practice clapping these first three rhythms while saying the syllables aloud, and you’ll hear that the note values are unequal. The eighth notes are twice as long as the sixteenths. Now practice triplets with rhythm syllables. Triplet eighth notes are unique in that they evenly divide the beat in three.  

What is the heartbeat mat and how is it used to learn rhythms?

The heartbeat mat is Hoffman Academy’s tool for matching up rhythms with beats. It’s an outstanding way to practice rhythm before learning time signatures. For beginning students, the teacher taps each heartbeat once while chanting a different rhythm. The students then decide which note values to add based on how many sounds they heard per beat. By placing rhythm cards on the heartbeats and then clapping and saying the rhythms, students get a physical experience that’s essential for internalizing rhythms.

Hello and welcome back I'm Joseph Hoffman, and today we're going to be doing a rhythm challenge focused on triplets. Let's come to the heartbeat mat to get started. This rhythm is called a triplet. Three notes all connected with a beam, and usually you'll see a number three up above with this kind of a little bracket. Sometimes you'll see that three down below. The word triplet in music is spelled and sounds the same as the word triplet meaning when you have three babies all at the same time. But instead of three babies sharing the same birthday, we have three notes all sharing the same beat. To make the sound of a triplet, let's just say TRI-PL-ET. Triplet is really just a two syllable word, but we're going to turn it into a three syllable word. TRI-PL-ET TRI-PL-ET TRI-PL-ET TRI-PL-ET Can you say that with me? Go. TRI-PL-ET TRI-PL-ET TRI-PL-ET TRI-PL-ET Notice that the sound of a triplet has a smooth rolling sound. If we wanted to use our advanced counting system, we'd say 1-&-a 2-&-a 3-&-a 4-&-a Can you say that with me? Go: 1-&-a 2-&-a 3-&-a 4-&-a. Let's try clapping it, go: 1-&-a 2-&-a 3-&-a 4-&-a This rhythm would be 1-&-a 2-&-a 3-&-a 4-&-a Can you try it with me? Clap and count. Ready, go! 1-&-a 2-&-a 3-&-a 4-&-a With rhythm words we could say TRI-PL-ET TRI-PL-ET TA TRI-PL-ET. Let's try saying this rhythm now I've added 4 extra beats using rhythm words. So we'll say TRI-PL-ET for a triplet. We'll say TA for the quarter note. REST for the quarter rest, and TWOO-OO for the half note. Can you point on your screen and let's say the rhythm words together? Ready go, TRI-PL-ET TA TRI-PL-ET TRI-PL-ET REST TRI-PL-ET TWO-OO Now sometimes I like to have fun by thinking of like food words instead of TRI-PL-ET What's a three-syllable food word? How about pineapple? And then we need a one syllable for the quarter note. How about pie? Pineapple, pie, pineapple, pineapple, REST pineapple, YU-M. Right? Or we could do broccoli, cheese, broccoli, broccoli, REST, broccoli, pie. Okay, can you try this rhythm on your own? Pause the video and point to each beat and you can use rhythm words TWO-OO, or you can use the food words YU-MM. Broccoli Pause the video, try this rhythm on your own, then press play and we'll try it together. Okay, let's use broccoli cheese, and we'll say YU-MM for the half note. Try it with me, go: YU-MM, broccoli, cheese, broccoli, broccoli, REST, YUM, I mean, cheese. As I mentioned earlier, a triplet is when three notes share 1 beat. Now there are lots of ways to share a beat. The special thing a ...