Chapter IV. Complex Rhythm
Exploring Theory with Practica Musica

Triplets, Duplets, and Tuplets

We've seen that all undotted notes divide only in twos, fours, eights, etc. What if you want to fit three equal notes into the time of a single undotted quarter note?

You can do it by marking each group with the number "3," as follows:

Figure 9. Triplets in Mozart's K. 467 Piano Concerto, K.467

The grouping is called a triplet, and the "3" indicates that an undotted note is to be divided into three equal parts. The above illustration shows how you would notate triplets having the time value of a half note, a quarter note, or an eighth note. In the Mozart example, three triplet eighth notes are played in the time of two normal eighth notes, i.e., in the time of a quarter note. The triplet accompaniment is especially effective here, used in contrast to the duple rhythm of the melody:

A rest, rather than a note, can be part of a triplet group and triplet rhythms can be varied with ties as in this example from Brahms' Third Symphony:

Figure 10. Quarter note triplets (Allegro, Brahms, Symphony no. 3)

Suggested Practica Musica activity: Reading Triplets. Practice reading music examples with triplet rhythms.