How to Play Triplets

In written music, triplets are used to play three notes in the time allotted for two. Triplets come in different values, but are always counted the same way. Remember that triplets are used to replace two beats with three even beats, so the value of each note in the triplet is smaller than the replaced two beats.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Note the time signature for your piece of music. The time signature is located in the first measure next to the clef symbol and key signature. The top number tells you the beats per measure while the bottom number tells you what note sets the beat.

2. Set a metronome so that each beat per measure gets two counts. Beats are usually broken down into two equal beats, or intervals of two.

3. Play the first note of a triplet on the beat.

4. The second note must come slightly before the second count of the beat on your metronome.

5. The third note of a triplet is played after the second count of the beat on your metronome.

6. Practice triplets separately if you have trouble with the timing. Triplets are easy to play, but take a little practice at first.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are writing quarter note triplets, use a bracket above the three notes with a 3 in the middle.
• Eighth, sixteenth or other beamed notes used in triplets have a "3" above the beam and are sometimes accompanied by a slur.
• If you don't have a metronome, you can count out loud to keep the beat. For example, a 4/4 time signature can be counted as follows: One-and, two-and, three-and, four-and.