So far, every subdivision has been dividing in two: a quarter note splits into two eighths, an eighth splits into two sixteenths. But what if you divide a beat into three? That's a triplet. And when you apply that three-way feel loosely, you get swing - the lazy, bouncy groove behind jazz, lo-fi hip-hop, and so much more - the difference between a recipe followed precisely and one seasoned by feel.
Triplets: dividing by three
A triplet divides a note into three equal parts instead of two. An eighth-note triplet fits three notes into the space of one beat (where normally two eighth notes fit). They're written with a "3" above the group.
Straight eighths vs eighth-note triplets (one beat)
Both take up the same amount of time, but the triplet divides it into three.
Common triplet types
3 quarter notes in 2 beats
Spans two beats. Creates a "3 against 2" feel.
3 eighth notes in 1 beat
The most common type. The classic "trip-let" feel.
3 sixteenth notes in half a beat
Rapid-fire triplets. Common in hi-hat rolls and fills.
Swing: the triplet's casual cousin
Swing is what you get when you take a pair of straight eighth notes and make the first one longer and the second shorter. Instead of two even notes (50/50), you shift toward a long-short pattern. At full swing, it sounds like a triplet with the middle note removed (67/33).
Straight vs swing (one beat)
Straight (50/50)
Light swing (~58/42)
Full swing (~67/33) - triplet feel
Swing exists on a spectrum. At 0% swing you have straight time. At 100% you have full triplet swing. Most music with "swing" sits somewhere in between. Jazz tends toward heavy swing, lo-fi hip-hop uses light to medium swing, and house music often has just a touch.
Swing across genres
70-85% swing
Heavy swing. The default feel for most jazz.
55-65% swing
Subtle swing on hi-hats and keys. Creates the relaxed, head-nodding feel.
60-70% swing
Moderate swing. Warm and smooth.
50-55% swing
Slight swing, mostly on hi-hats. Keeps four-on-the-floor but adds human feel.
50% swing
No swing - deliberately straight for mechanical precision.
Triplets and swing in your DAW
Most DAWs handle these as separate features:
Triplet grid
Switch your grid snap from 1/8 to 1/8T (triplet). The grid lines shift to divide each beat into three. Draw notes on these lines for precise triplet rhythms.
Swing control
A swing percentage that shifts every other grid line. You draw straight eighth notes, and the DAW automatically shuffles the timing. Adjust the percentage to taste.
Tip: Many groove libraries (MPC swing, Ableton groove pool) capture the swing of real drummers. These apply subtle, non-uniform timing variations that sound more natural than a fixed swing percentage.
Triplets in modern production
Triplets are everywhere in modern music. Trap hi-hats use rapid triplet rolls. Triplet flows in rap (the "Migos flow") accent every third sixteenth note. Drum fills often accelerate from straight to triplet feel. Even if you mostly work in straight time, triplets are one of the most useful rhythmic tools to have.
Try it
Compare straight vs swing feel. Straight divides evenly; swing makes the first note longer:
Key takeaway
Triplets divide a note into three equal parts instead of two. Swing applies a long-short timing to pairs of notes, ranging from subtle to full triplet feel. Use triplet grid mode for precise triplets, and swing percentage for the laid-back shuffle feel.
Next: odd time signatures - what happens when bars don't fit the usual 4-beat pattern.
Generate rhythms and grooves
Starts builds drum patterns and rhythmic parts with proper timing, velocity, and groove.