Metal Riffing with 16th Note Triplets

Hey everyone! Welcome to the "Metal Riffing with 16th Note Triplets" tutorial. Today we're going to focus on a group of rhythmic notes called 16th Note Triplets, also known as sextuplets. First off, let's go over what 16th note triplets actually are... 16th note triplets represent 6 notes for every beat. So for example, if there are four beats in a measure, you'll have a total of twenty-four 16th note triplets in that measure. When you count these notes, you can simply just count the numbers: "1 2 3 4 5 6 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 - 1 2 3 4 5 6" So above, we just counted 16th note tripets for a total of four beats. Notice that every time you start over again at "1", a new beat begins. To identify 16th note triplets in the notation below, look for the notes tied together by the "3" written directly above the notes. For each beat, you'll see 3 notes tied together, then another 3 notes tied together, totaling 6 notes for every beat. Now, go ahead and pick any string on your guitar (for this lesson I used the Low E string) and play 16th note triplets while counting out loud. Play it very slowly. Also, use alternate picking and try accenting everytime you play the "1" count at the beginning of each beat. That will help you keep track of where you are at in the sequence. Lastly, in the video you saw me demonstrate playing 16th note triplets while speeding up and slowing down. Once you have the basic feel for these notes, give that a try. Start slow, then gradually increase your speed, then gradually decrease your speed etc., all without stopping. Don't go faster than you can handle though. This is all about controlling your timing to develop a better sense of rhythm. Great job. See you in the next lesson!