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Triplets sub-divide rhythmic pulses or sub-pulses into three equal parts where the expectation is two equal parts.
One beat, normally sub-divided into four equal parts (sixteenth-notes), is sub-divided into six.

sixteenth-note triplets
6:4
sixteenth-note triplets, or six-over-four
"one-e-trip-ple-let-ta"

One measure of 4/4 time has three parts per beat instead of the exected two eighth-notes.

eighth-note triplets
eighth-note triplets, or three-over-two eighth-note triplets, or three-over-two
"one-trip-let  two-trip-let  three-trip-let  four-trip-let"

Eighth-note triplets are the primary beat-pulse of shuffles and swing rhythms. The beat (one, two, three or four) and the let are accentuated to produce the feel.


Quarter-note triplets and half-note triplets span more than one beat-pulse. Sub-dividing them into smaller triplet units allows the triplet count to be used to accurately place these triplets within the measure.

quarter-note triplets
3:2
quarter-note triplets, or three-over-two
    "one-(trip)-let-(two)-trip-(let)"

The count for half-note triplets covers includes the full measure of eighth-note triplets. Accented counts would be the one, the trip of two, and the let of three.

half-note triplets
3:2
half-note triplets, or three-over-two                half-note triplets, or three-over-two                half-note triplets, or three-over-two

     "ONE-(trip-let-two)-TRIP-(let-three-trip)-LET-(four-trip-let)"

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