What Are Triplets and Eighth Note Triplets?
A triplet is a rhythm playing three notes in the space of two. That is, three evenly spaced notes in the space of two notes of the same rhythmic value. The most common example is the 8th note triplet. An eighth note triplet rhythm is 3 notes played in the space of 2 eighth notes. You may find it easier to think of the eighth note triplet as being 3 notes dividing a quarter note (since 1 quarter note = 2 eighth notes). Other triplets exist, too. The next most common is the quarter note triplet. A quarter note triplet is three notes dividing the space of two quarter notes (the same space as a half note). Again, a triplet is not just 3 notes grouped together, but a specific rhythm consisting of three equally spaced notes.
