Triplet Fill Exrev

16th Note Triplet Fill Lesson #1 By John Xepoleas

In this lesson you'll learn a great sounding, easy to play triplet ﬁll. You'll learn the basic pattern, plus some variations around the set. You'll also learn how to play the pattern as a ﬁll into a beat.

To get started, practice slowly playing three even notes between the low tom, hi tom and bass drum.

Basic pattern

1. 3 3 3 3                  R L!! R LR LR L

Now, pratice moving your right hand around the set in a "clockwise" motion. Note: For all of the examples in this lesson you'll keep your left hand on the hi-tom. For this example, start with your right hand on the snare, then move it to the hi tom, medium tom, low tom and back to the snare. Repeat the pattern at one steady tempo, being sure to play all three notes of the triplet evenly throughout.

Clockwise motion

2. 3 3 3 3                RLR LR LR L

Next, practice moving your right hand around the set in a "counter-clockwise" motion. Remember to keep your left hand on the hi tom for the entire measure. Start your right hand on the snare, then move it to the low tom, medium tom, hi tom and back to the snare.

Counter-clockwise motion

3. 3 3 3 3                RLR LR LR L

Now, practice moving your right hand between the "snare and low tom". Keep your left hand on the hi tom then simply move your right hand between the snare drum and low tom.

Right hand moves between snare and low tom

4. 3 3 3 3                RLR LR LR L

You can also move your right hand between the "snare and medium tom" or "snare and hi tom".

Right hand between snare and medium tom

5 3 3 3 3                RLR LR LR L 16th Note Triplet Fill Lesson - Page 2

Right hand moves between snare and hi tom

6 3 3 3 3                  RLR LR LR L

The following pattern combines the three previous examples. It has the right hand moving between the snare and low tom, snare and medium tom, then snare and hi tom. Repeat the pattern until you can comfortably play it. And remember...keep the tempo steady and the triplet notes even.

Right hand moves between snare and toms

7. 3 3 3 3 3 3                        RLR LR LR LR LR L Let's play triplets as a fill into a beat. In this case, they will be played as 16th note triplets. The pattern is based on example 4 where the right hand plays between the snare and low tom. Play a flam followed by a bass drum on the 4th beat of the fill measure. This sets up the drum beat. Start with the written drum beat. Then, once you are comfortable playing it into the triplet fill, practice playing it into a variety of sdifferent beats. Playing triplets as a fill 8.  3  3  3                                     

We are going to play the triplet ﬁll over two bars, but before we do, we'll start by learning the following pattern. It's three groups of triplets with the right hand starting on the snare for the ﬁrst triplet, then moving to the low tom for the next two.

3 3 3 9.                RLR LR L

The above pattern has been applied to 16th note triplets in the following ﬁll. The accented snare part highlights the beginning of each new three triplet pattern. These accents will help you keep your place in the measure.

Two bar triplet ﬁll 10.                         

 3 3 3  3 3 3  3                                  

Well, that about wraps it up. The information in this lesson is only the tip of the iceberg. Take what you've learned and have a great time exploring all of the possibilities with 16th note triplets.

Drum Notation

Hi-Hat Crash cymbal Snare Hi tom Medium tom Low tom Bass drum        