A triplet fits three notes into the time of two. Eighth-note triplets divide the beat into three equal parts instead of two.
The hardest part is switching between triplets and straight eighths. Say "tri-o-la" for triplets and "ti-ti" for eighths, and feel the change in speed.
| Figure | Count | Kodály syllables |
|---|---|---|
| Eighth triplet | 1-trip-let | tri-o-la |
| Quarter + eighth triplet | 1 - let | ta-la (swing) |
A triplet is three notes played in the time normally taken by two of the same kind. It is written with a small 3 above or below the group, often with a bracket. Three triplet eighths fill one quarter-note beat, so each is a little shorter than a normal eighth note.
Say "1-trip-let, 2-trip-let", or "tri-o-la", with three perfectly even syllables per click. Only the first syllable lines up with the click. Nothing falls halfway through the beat, where the "&" of straight eighths would be. If you hear one of your claps land in the middle of the beat, the triplet has turned into something else.
The exercises mix beats of two and beats of three. Before you clap them, alternate out loud with the click: "1 &, 2-trip-let, 3 &, 4-trip-let". The beat stays where it is. Only the number of notes inside it changes.
Triplets give blues shuffles and slow 12/8 ballads their rolling feel.