Triplets Vs Gallops: The Key Difference All Metal & Rock Guitarists MUST Know

If you’ve ever wondered whether that gallop riff you’re playing is actually a triplet… you’re not alone. This is a super common point of confusion for guitarists.

This lesson actually comes from one of you—someone wrote to me a great question asking about the difference between triplets and gallops on guitar.

Now, on the surface, both rhythms have that 3-note feel, but they’re not the same thing—and understanding the difference can completely change the way your riffs sound and feel.

In this lesson, I’ll break down what triplets really are, how to read them in notation, how to pick them, and then we’ll put them side by side with gallops and reverse gallops. That way, you’ll hear exactly how each rhythm creates a different vibe, whether it’s classic rock or thrash metal.