Playing ONE triplet (not three)












7















Has anybody ever seen playing only ONE or TWO triplets instead of three? Can anyone tell me if it's even possible and if anybody tried to do it? I guess it would be hard to count, because:



In 4/4 at 30bpm, quarter note triplets lasts 0,66s for each triplet note. Then if we were to play only one triplet note and pause for two next we would play for 0,66 sec and then pause for 1,34 sec (the entire duration of a half note, which is 2 seconds in this example).










share|improve this question




















  • 5





    If you mean play only one note of a three note triplet, this happens all the time.

    – Todd Wilcox
    8 hours ago











  • As I recall, the second movement of Shostakovich's second piano concerto has a whole bunch of triplets that are rest-note-note.

    – David Richerby
    5 hours ago











  • Do you mean one or two notes of the triplet? or a triplet followed by a another grouping?

    – ggcg
    3 hours ago











  • In "London Kid" by J.M. Jarre, triplets are tied to the preceding note. Does this count, too?

    – rexkogitans
    3 hours ago


















7















Has anybody ever seen playing only ONE or TWO triplets instead of three? Can anyone tell me if it's even possible and if anybody tried to do it? I guess it would be hard to count, because:



In 4/4 at 30bpm, quarter note triplets lasts 0,66s for each triplet note. Then if we were to play only one triplet note and pause for two next we would play for 0,66 sec and then pause for 1,34 sec (the entire duration of a half note, which is 2 seconds in this example).










share|improve this question




















  • 5





    If you mean play only one note of a three note triplet, this happens all the time.

    – Todd Wilcox
    8 hours ago











  • As I recall, the second movement of Shostakovich's second piano concerto has a whole bunch of triplets that are rest-note-note.

    – David Richerby
    5 hours ago











  • Do you mean one or two notes of the triplet? or a triplet followed by a another grouping?

    – ggcg
    3 hours ago











  • In "London Kid" by J.M. Jarre, triplets are tied to the preceding note. Does this count, too?

    – rexkogitans
    3 hours ago
















7












7








7








Has anybody ever seen playing only ONE or TWO triplets instead of three? Can anyone tell me if it's even possible and if anybody tried to do it? I guess it would be hard to count, because:



In 4/4 at 30bpm, quarter note triplets lasts 0,66s for each triplet note. Then if we were to play only one triplet note and pause for two next we would play for 0,66 sec and then pause for 1,34 sec (the entire duration of a half note, which is 2 seconds in this example).










share|improve this question
















Has anybody ever seen playing only ONE or TWO triplets instead of three? Can anyone tell me if it's even possible and if anybody tried to do it? I guess it would be hard to count, because:



In 4/4 at 30bpm, quarter note triplets lasts 0,66s for each triplet note. Then if we were to play only one triplet note and pause for two next we would play for 0,66 sec and then pause for 1,34 sec (the entire duration of a half note, which is 2 seconds in this example).







theory tempo






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 7 hours ago









user45266

3,4201734




3,4201734










asked 8 hours ago









Raven322Raven322

364




364








  • 5





    If you mean play only one note of a three note triplet, this happens all the time.

    – Todd Wilcox
    8 hours ago











  • As I recall, the second movement of Shostakovich's second piano concerto has a whole bunch of triplets that are rest-note-note.

    – David Richerby
    5 hours ago











  • Do you mean one or two notes of the triplet? or a triplet followed by a another grouping?

    – ggcg
    3 hours ago











  • In "London Kid" by J.M. Jarre, triplets are tied to the preceding note. Does this count, too?

    – rexkogitans
    3 hours ago
















  • 5





    If you mean play only one note of a three note triplet, this happens all the time.

    – Todd Wilcox
    8 hours ago











  • As I recall, the second movement of Shostakovich's second piano concerto has a whole bunch of triplets that are rest-note-note.

    – David Richerby
    5 hours ago











  • Do you mean one or two notes of the triplet? or a triplet followed by a another grouping?

    – ggcg
    3 hours ago











  • In "London Kid" by J.M. Jarre, triplets are tied to the preceding note. Does this count, too?

    – rexkogitans
    3 hours ago










5




5





If you mean play only one note of a three note triplet, this happens all the time.

– Todd Wilcox
8 hours ago





If you mean play only one note of a three note triplet, this happens all the time.

– Todd Wilcox
8 hours ago













As I recall, the second movement of Shostakovich's second piano concerto has a whole bunch of triplets that are rest-note-note.

– David Richerby
5 hours ago





As I recall, the second movement of Shostakovich's second piano concerto has a whole bunch of triplets that are rest-note-note.

– David Richerby
5 hours ago













Do you mean one or two notes of the triplet? or a triplet followed by a another grouping?

– ggcg
3 hours ago





Do you mean one or two notes of the triplet? or a triplet followed by a another grouping?

– ggcg
3 hours ago













In "London Kid" by J.M. Jarre, triplets are tied to the preceding note. Does this count, too?

– rexkogitans
3 hours ago







In "London Kid" by J.M. Jarre, triplets are tied to the preceding note. Does this count, too?

– rexkogitans
3 hours ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















13














Of course, playing only one of them with no other context wouldn't sound like triplets, no matter what the note lengths were.

As already mentioned, playing the 1st & 3rd triplet gives you a swing beat.



Playing or even just emphasising only the 2nd triplet is more rare.



I can think of no finer example than this..

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World.
Long quiet intro, track starts at about 30s








Finest use of the 2nd triplet I've ever heard.

The overall 'backbeat' of the track is distinctly a 'swing' 1st & 3rd triplets in heavy simple rotation.
However, the hi-hat pattern constantly emphasises the 2nd triplet, as does the rhythm guitar that is introduced in the second verse.

The [not too frequent] drum fills are worth waiting for as they also sit heavily on the 2nd triplet.






share|improve this answer


























  • +1 for the excellent example. It may deserve a mention that this uses eighth triplets (three eighths in the time of two), rather than the quarter triplets that the OP uses as an example.

    – Jos
    6 hours ago











  • +1 You helped, thank you :)

    – Raven322
    4 hours ago






  • 1





    @Jos - sorry, you're right - I just don't know any example better for showing "how to play with the emphasis in triplets". Same applies at any tempo, 4s 8s or even 16s, but this one is just so on the money for me.

    – Tetsujin
    4 hours ago











  • To be even more pedantic: most jazz music that is called swing does not use exact triplets, but something in between straight eighths (1:1) and two-triplets-to-one (2:1). Listen, for example, to the melody of Donna Lee. Blues, however, like "Black Velvet" mentioned by @gidds below, typically uses triplets, as does "Everybody wants to rule the world".

    – Jos
    5 mins ago





















2














Playing three triplets per beat is the norm for triplets, but playing two is also fairly common. It amounts to swing timing, where the triplets are split into a double and a single. One would be possible, but that would have to be exactly the right length, and if made staccato wouldn't make a lot of sense.



And certainly any playing wouldn't be helped by timing as you suggest. With a stopwatch? It's not how most music gets played, because that's counted and felt with the pulse of the music. The bpm signifies how quick that pulse will be.






share|improve this answer
























  • Perhaps an example of playing 1st and 3rd (but not 2nd) would be the bassline to 'Black Velvet’ by Alannah Myles?

    – gidds
    1 hour ago











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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









13














Of course, playing only one of them with no other context wouldn't sound like triplets, no matter what the note lengths were.

As already mentioned, playing the 1st & 3rd triplet gives you a swing beat.



Playing or even just emphasising only the 2nd triplet is more rare.



I can think of no finer example than this..

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World.
Long quiet intro, track starts at about 30s








Finest use of the 2nd triplet I've ever heard.

The overall 'backbeat' of the track is distinctly a 'swing' 1st & 3rd triplets in heavy simple rotation.
However, the hi-hat pattern constantly emphasises the 2nd triplet, as does the rhythm guitar that is introduced in the second verse.

The [not too frequent] drum fills are worth waiting for as they also sit heavily on the 2nd triplet.






share|improve this answer


























  • +1 for the excellent example. It may deserve a mention that this uses eighth triplets (three eighths in the time of two), rather than the quarter triplets that the OP uses as an example.

    – Jos
    6 hours ago











  • +1 You helped, thank you :)

    – Raven322
    4 hours ago






  • 1





    @Jos - sorry, you're right - I just don't know any example better for showing "how to play with the emphasis in triplets". Same applies at any tempo, 4s 8s or even 16s, but this one is just so on the money for me.

    – Tetsujin
    4 hours ago











  • To be even more pedantic: most jazz music that is called swing does not use exact triplets, but something in between straight eighths (1:1) and two-triplets-to-one (2:1). Listen, for example, to the melody of Donna Lee. Blues, however, like "Black Velvet" mentioned by @gidds below, typically uses triplets, as does "Everybody wants to rule the world".

    – Jos
    5 mins ago


















13














Of course, playing only one of them with no other context wouldn't sound like triplets, no matter what the note lengths were.

As already mentioned, playing the 1st & 3rd triplet gives you a swing beat.



Playing or even just emphasising only the 2nd triplet is more rare.



I can think of no finer example than this..

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World.
Long quiet intro, track starts at about 30s








Finest use of the 2nd triplet I've ever heard.

The overall 'backbeat' of the track is distinctly a 'swing' 1st & 3rd triplets in heavy simple rotation.
However, the hi-hat pattern constantly emphasises the 2nd triplet, as does the rhythm guitar that is introduced in the second verse.

The [not too frequent] drum fills are worth waiting for as they also sit heavily on the 2nd triplet.






share|improve this answer


























  • +1 for the excellent example. It may deserve a mention that this uses eighth triplets (three eighths in the time of two), rather than the quarter triplets that the OP uses as an example.

    – Jos
    6 hours ago











  • +1 You helped, thank you :)

    – Raven322
    4 hours ago






  • 1





    @Jos - sorry, you're right - I just don't know any example better for showing "how to play with the emphasis in triplets". Same applies at any tempo, 4s 8s or even 16s, but this one is just so on the money for me.

    – Tetsujin
    4 hours ago











  • To be even more pedantic: most jazz music that is called swing does not use exact triplets, but something in between straight eighths (1:1) and two-triplets-to-one (2:1). Listen, for example, to the melody of Donna Lee. Blues, however, like "Black Velvet" mentioned by @gidds below, typically uses triplets, as does "Everybody wants to rule the world".

    – Jos
    5 mins ago
















13












13








13







Of course, playing only one of them with no other context wouldn't sound like triplets, no matter what the note lengths were.

As already mentioned, playing the 1st & 3rd triplet gives you a swing beat.



Playing or even just emphasising only the 2nd triplet is more rare.



I can think of no finer example than this..

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World.
Long quiet intro, track starts at about 30s








Finest use of the 2nd triplet I've ever heard.

The overall 'backbeat' of the track is distinctly a 'swing' 1st & 3rd triplets in heavy simple rotation.
However, the hi-hat pattern constantly emphasises the 2nd triplet, as does the rhythm guitar that is introduced in the second verse.

The [not too frequent] drum fills are worth waiting for as they also sit heavily on the 2nd triplet.






share|improve this answer















Of course, playing only one of them with no other context wouldn't sound like triplets, no matter what the note lengths were.

As already mentioned, playing the 1st & 3rd triplet gives you a swing beat.



Playing or even just emphasising only the 2nd triplet is more rare.



I can think of no finer example than this..

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World.
Long quiet intro, track starts at about 30s








Finest use of the 2nd triplet I've ever heard.

The overall 'backbeat' of the track is distinctly a 'swing' 1st & 3rd triplets in heavy simple rotation.
However, the hi-hat pattern constantly emphasises the 2nd triplet, as does the rhythm guitar that is introduced in the second verse.

The [not too frequent] drum fills are worth waiting for as they also sit heavily on the 2nd triplet.















share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 7 hours ago

























answered 7 hours ago









TetsujinTetsujin

8,04821832




8,04821832













  • +1 for the excellent example. It may deserve a mention that this uses eighth triplets (three eighths in the time of two), rather than the quarter triplets that the OP uses as an example.

    – Jos
    6 hours ago











  • +1 You helped, thank you :)

    – Raven322
    4 hours ago






  • 1





    @Jos - sorry, you're right - I just don't know any example better for showing "how to play with the emphasis in triplets". Same applies at any tempo, 4s 8s or even 16s, but this one is just so on the money for me.

    – Tetsujin
    4 hours ago











  • To be even more pedantic: most jazz music that is called swing does not use exact triplets, but something in between straight eighths (1:1) and two-triplets-to-one (2:1). Listen, for example, to the melody of Donna Lee. Blues, however, like "Black Velvet" mentioned by @gidds below, typically uses triplets, as does "Everybody wants to rule the world".

    – Jos
    5 mins ago





















  • +1 for the excellent example. It may deserve a mention that this uses eighth triplets (three eighths in the time of two), rather than the quarter triplets that the OP uses as an example.

    – Jos
    6 hours ago











  • +1 You helped, thank you :)

    – Raven322
    4 hours ago






  • 1





    @Jos - sorry, you're right - I just don't know any example better for showing "how to play with the emphasis in triplets". Same applies at any tempo, 4s 8s or even 16s, but this one is just so on the money for me.

    – Tetsujin
    4 hours ago











  • To be even more pedantic: most jazz music that is called swing does not use exact triplets, but something in between straight eighths (1:1) and two-triplets-to-one (2:1). Listen, for example, to the melody of Donna Lee. Blues, however, like "Black Velvet" mentioned by @gidds below, typically uses triplets, as does "Everybody wants to rule the world".

    – Jos
    5 mins ago



















+1 for the excellent example. It may deserve a mention that this uses eighth triplets (three eighths in the time of two), rather than the quarter triplets that the OP uses as an example.

– Jos
6 hours ago





+1 for the excellent example. It may deserve a mention that this uses eighth triplets (three eighths in the time of two), rather than the quarter triplets that the OP uses as an example.

– Jos
6 hours ago













+1 You helped, thank you :)

– Raven322
4 hours ago





+1 You helped, thank you :)

– Raven322
4 hours ago




1




1





@Jos - sorry, you're right - I just don't know any example better for showing "how to play with the emphasis in triplets". Same applies at any tempo, 4s 8s or even 16s, but this one is just so on the money for me.

– Tetsujin
4 hours ago





@Jos - sorry, you're right - I just don't know any example better for showing "how to play with the emphasis in triplets". Same applies at any tempo, 4s 8s or even 16s, but this one is just so on the money for me.

– Tetsujin
4 hours ago













To be even more pedantic: most jazz music that is called swing does not use exact triplets, but something in between straight eighths (1:1) and two-triplets-to-one (2:1). Listen, for example, to the melody of Donna Lee. Blues, however, like "Black Velvet" mentioned by @gidds below, typically uses triplets, as does "Everybody wants to rule the world".

– Jos
5 mins ago







To be even more pedantic: most jazz music that is called swing does not use exact triplets, but something in between straight eighths (1:1) and two-triplets-to-one (2:1). Listen, for example, to the melody of Donna Lee. Blues, however, like "Black Velvet" mentioned by @gidds below, typically uses triplets, as does "Everybody wants to rule the world".

– Jos
5 mins ago













2














Playing three triplets per beat is the norm for triplets, but playing two is also fairly common. It amounts to swing timing, where the triplets are split into a double and a single. One would be possible, but that would have to be exactly the right length, and if made staccato wouldn't make a lot of sense.



And certainly any playing wouldn't be helped by timing as you suggest. With a stopwatch? It's not how most music gets played, because that's counted and felt with the pulse of the music. The bpm signifies how quick that pulse will be.






share|improve this answer
























  • Perhaps an example of playing 1st and 3rd (but not 2nd) would be the bassline to 'Black Velvet’ by Alannah Myles?

    – gidds
    1 hour ago
















2














Playing three triplets per beat is the norm for triplets, but playing two is also fairly common. It amounts to swing timing, where the triplets are split into a double and a single. One would be possible, but that would have to be exactly the right length, and if made staccato wouldn't make a lot of sense.



And certainly any playing wouldn't be helped by timing as you suggest. With a stopwatch? It's not how most music gets played, because that's counted and felt with the pulse of the music. The bpm signifies how quick that pulse will be.






share|improve this answer
























  • Perhaps an example of playing 1st and 3rd (but not 2nd) would be the bassline to 'Black Velvet’ by Alannah Myles?

    – gidds
    1 hour ago














2












2








2







Playing three triplets per beat is the norm for triplets, but playing two is also fairly common. It amounts to swing timing, where the triplets are split into a double and a single. One would be possible, but that would have to be exactly the right length, and if made staccato wouldn't make a lot of sense.



And certainly any playing wouldn't be helped by timing as you suggest. With a stopwatch? It's not how most music gets played, because that's counted and felt with the pulse of the music. The bpm signifies how quick that pulse will be.






share|improve this answer













Playing three triplets per beat is the norm for triplets, but playing two is also fairly common. It amounts to swing timing, where the triplets are split into a double and a single. One would be possible, but that would have to be exactly the right length, and if made staccato wouldn't make a lot of sense.



And certainly any playing wouldn't be helped by timing as you suggest. With a stopwatch? It's not how most music gets played, because that's counted and felt with the pulse of the music. The bpm signifies how quick that pulse will be.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 8 hours ago









TimTim

102k10107259




102k10107259













  • Perhaps an example of playing 1st and 3rd (but not 2nd) would be the bassline to 'Black Velvet’ by Alannah Myles?

    – gidds
    1 hour ago



















  • Perhaps an example of playing 1st and 3rd (but not 2nd) would be the bassline to 'Black Velvet’ by Alannah Myles?

    – gidds
    1 hour ago

















Perhaps an example of playing 1st and 3rd (but not 2nd) would be the bassline to 'Black Velvet’ by Alannah Myles?

– gidds
1 hour ago





Perhaps an example of playing 1st and 3rd (but not 2nd) would be the bassline to 'Black Velvet’ by Alannah Myles?

– gidds
1 hour ago


















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