HOW TO PLAY A TRIPLET

A small piece of advice: Once you learn triplets, you will be tempted to use them constantly. Be aware of this, because over use is not a good thing. The worst part of it is that you won't notice how bad it really sounds - but your audience will.

Using the Pencil Whip style (since that is what you would have learned from the previous page) you will probably notice that on the down swing of each beat the top of the tipper comes close to the skin. Simple logic tells you that that is when you hit it to the skin....and this time logic prevails. You need only turn your wrist a slight bit to get the top to hit the skin. You will want to continue with your original swinging motion. Don't let the extra wrist motion change your rhythm.

It's called a triplet because of it's three consecutive strikes on the skin. The first strike is the normal downswing. The second is the top striking during the follow - through of the downswing. The third is the normal upswing. When you put the three motions together, it will sound like a mini drum roll.

Practice the motions for a while. It's not easy, but once you get it (you'll know by the sound), you will remember it. Just like riding a bike - without the skinned knees. When you get the sound right with the three moves, then move on to trying rhythms that incorporate triplets.