Eighth Note Triplets | Drum Lessons
This video lesson dives into something a little different than a quarter, 8th, and the 16th notes that you’re use to. Up until now, all subdivisions we’ve discussed split counts in half. In other words, the change in counting double the speed at which the note were to be played. Well in this lesson, we’ll be subdividing triplets, instead of moving from a quarter note into two 8th notes, we’ll be moving from one quarter note into three 8th note triplets. Take a look at the sheet music provided with this lesson. The first line shows a measure of 8th note triplets in 4/4 time. You can recognize the 8th note triplets by the single connecting line and the fact that there’s a small number three above each group. As with the previous divisions, the quarter note counts are still present. You can see the one, two, three, and four counts where each quarter note would be placed. Now, what’s new is the triplet counts, we count this by splitting up the word triplet into two syllables. So we would count the first line one triplet, two triplet, three triplet, four triplet, starting at one for each measure. The second example shows how you would transition between quarter notes and 8th note triplets. Let’s count this out loud along with the metronome set at 80 beats per minute. We’ll repeat the line twice, one, two, three, four, one triplet, two triplet, three triplet, four triplet, one, two, three, four, one triplet, two triplet, three triplet, four triplet. Now, it’s important that you count these triplets very smoothly. This becomes even more important when you begin to play them. The counts should be consistent without breaks. You don’t want to count one triplet… two triplet, instead the count should be smooth and consistent. One triplet, two triplet, three triplet, four triplet, one triplet, two triplet, three triplet, four triplet. Take a look at exercise three, there I’ve laid out four measures of music that combines quarter notes, 8th notes, 8th note triplets, and 16th notes, using a variety of drum voices, let’s count through these four measures with the metronome at 80 beats per minute. One, two, three triplet, four triplet, one E, and a two E, and a three, and four, and one, two triplet, three, four E and a one E and a two triplet, three triplet, four, one, two, three triplet, four triplet, one E and a two E and a three, and four, and one, two triplet, three, four E and a one E and a two triplet, three triplet, four. I hope your beginning to see how all these note values relate to each other and how they can provide real variety within the set tempo. Just to mix things up, let’s count through the third exercise again. This time at a hundred beats per minute. One, two, three triplet, four triplet, one E, and a two E, and a three, and four, and one, two triplet, three, four E and a one E and a two triplet, three triplet, four, one, two, three triplet, four triplet, one E and a two E and a three, and four, and one, two triplet, three, four E and a one E and two triplet, three triplet, four. That’s it for this lesson. If everything makes sense, it’s time to move on to the next video.