Triplets

Three in the time of two

A triplet is a group of three notes played in the time of two of the same kind. A small 3 over or under the group shows it.

• Three triplet quavers last one crotchet (the time of two quavers).
• Three triplet crotchets last one minim.
• Three triplet semiquavers last one quaver.
• Three triplet minims last one semibreve.

Triplets with rests

A triplet group can include a rest: it still takes one of the three places.

Tip: to check a bar with a triplet, replace the triplet with the two notes it stands for. Three triplet quavers count as one crotchet beat.