Triceratops Triplets

This is a ‘dinosaur’ of a challenge based around groups of 3 notes, hence the name Triceratops Triplets.

It is deceptively simple when broken down into its component pieces, but as these components get layered the challenge develops some interesting properties.

Try this out first of all by just reading the instructions and ignoring the notation. The notation has been included to reinforce and help explain the instructions, but please don’t treat this as an exercise in reading drum music. It is not a sight-reading exercise!

How to tackle Triceratops Triplets

Triceratops Triplets are best tackled using the power of your mind and coordination skills. Use the notated examples as a reference, but don’t be “dependent on the dots”!

If you don’t read drum music then don’t worry about the music notation or the more theoretical parts of this teaser challenge.

Have fun!

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Step 1

Start with your dominant (strong) hand. For the purposes of this description I’m going to say right hand to mean the dominant hand. If you are left-handed swap everything so right means left.

The right hand plays the first and third part of a triplet, just like a shuffle pattern.

Use the Hi Hat or the Ride. We’re just specifying this part is played with the right hand, not dictating which sound surface you play. It’s important to practice all patterns both the open-handed and cross-handed position.

Play a few repeated bars of the shuffle pattern quite slowly, counting the triplets as you go.

Step 2

With your right foot play the bass drum on the first and second parts of the triplet, with a rest on the third part of the triplet.

Practice this on its own for a few repeats of the bar, counting the triplets as you play.

Add the right hand part over the top of the bass drum part.

The two parts overlap. Be careful to avoid the two parts turning into the same thing. Resist the temptation to allow the right hand and right foot to start playing in unison (together).

Step 3

Here the Left Foot (Hi Hat pedal) comes into play. If you have double kick pedals you could play this with your left kick pedal instead of the hi hat.

When using the hi hat pedal be sure to get a clean “chick” sound with a firm closure of the Hi Hat, not a “ching” as in a foot splash sound.

Your left foot is going to play the second and third parts of the triplet.

Like this: Rest – Chick – Chick – Rest – Chick – Chick – etc.

After a few repetitions of the bar with a clean “chick” sound, combine the left foot pattern with the right hand pattern from earlier. Play the right hand on the Ride cymbal for now.

Step 4

You’ve now got three layers for three different limbs playing three different parts of the triplet.

Guess what we are going to do? Yes, that’s right! All three at the same time.

Work on the individual combinations of two out of the three limbs and gradually introduce the third limb. Once you’ve got it looped a few times it should start to sit quite naturally. It might take a few attempts and a few times of throwing your drum sticks across the room, but you will get it after a bit of patience with it.

to be continued….

In part 2 we take this further and we’ll add some parts for the left hand as well. It will turn into a “Triceratops Triplet Groove” – a real monster of a thing. Can you handle it? Find out in part 2.

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