Triads
Copyright © 2019 Marc Sabatella
MuseScore 3.4.0
2020-01-13
7.056
40
1583.9
1223.92
56.6893
56.6893
56.6893
85.034
56.6893
56.6893
56.6893
85.034
Triads
Copyright © 2019 Marc Sabatella
Copyright © 2019 Marc Sabatella
Piano
Piano
1
1
78.7402
0
0.00
-0.00
376.77
1
0
none
G
2
- a
chord
is a set of three or more notes sounding together.
- most Western harmony is based on chords with an interval of a third between the notes.
- a chord with exactly three notes, each a third apart, is called a
triad
.
- the bottom note of the triad is called the root and forms the basis for the name of the triad.
- other notes of the triad are named according to their interval above the root.
C triad
C
5
4
1
whole
root (R)
E
5
4
1
whole
third (3)
G
5
4
1
whole
fifth (5)
- the most common triads consist of one major third and one minor third.
- these triads have a p5 interval between the root and fifth, so all the intervals are consonant.
- these triads may be further named according to the interval above the root.
- major triads are normally denoted by their root alone, as a capital letter.
- minor triads are often indicated with a lower case root or with an "m" or "mi" after the root.
C major triad (C)
C
5
4
1
whole
E
5
4
1
whole
ma3
G
5
4
1
whole
mi3
C minor triad (c, Cm, or Cmi)
C
5
4
1
whole
E
-1
5
4
1
whole
flat
mi3
G
5
4
1
whole
ma3
- a triad with two minor thirds has a d5 interval between the root and fifth and is called
diminished
.
- diminished triads are often denoted by a small circle ("o") after the root.
- a triad with two major thirds has an a5 interval between the root and fifth and is called
augmented
.
- augmented triads are often denoted by a plus sign ("+") after the root.
C diminished triad (Co)
C
5
4
1
whole
E
-1
5
4
1
whole
flat
mi3
G
-1
5
4
1
whole
flat
mi3
d5 above root
C augmented triad (C+)
C
5
4
1
whole
E
5
4
1
whole
ma3
G
1
5
4
1
whole
sharp
ma3
a5 above root
- major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads can be formed on any root by considering scale degrees:
- major: 1 3 5
- minor: 1 ♭3 5
- diminished: 1 ♭3 ♭5
- augmented: 1 3 ♯5
A
4
1
1
quarter
up
single
1
B
4
1
1
quarter
down
single
2
C
1
5
1
1
quarter
sharp
down
single
3
D
5
1
1
quarter
down
single
4
E
5
1
1
quarter
down
single
5
F
1
5
1
1
quarter
sharp
down
single
6
G
1
5
1
1
quarter
sharp
down
single
7
A
5
1
1
quarter
down
single
1
A
major
A
4
4
1
whole
single
1 3 5
C
1
5
4
1
whole
sharp
E
5
4
1
whole
A
minor
A
4
4
1
whole
single
1 ♭3 5
C
5
4
1
whole
natural
E
5
4
1
whole
A
diminished
A
4
4
1
whole
single
1 ♭3 ♭5
C
5
4
1
whole
E
-1
5
4
1
whole
flat
A
augmented
A
4
4
1
whole
single
1 3 ♯5
C
1
5
4
1
whole
sharp
E
1
5
4
1
whole
sharp
1
- triads of any type can be constructed starting from a given third or fifth by first determining the root:
- given the third, the root of a major or augmented triad ia a major third below.
- given the third, the root of a minor or diminished triad is a minor third below.
- given the fifth, the root of a major or minor triad is a perfect fifths below.
- given the fifth, the root of a diminished or augmented triad is a diminished or augmented fifth below.
3
B
4
4
1
whole
G
major
root ma3↓
G
4
4
1
whole
B
4
4
1
whole
D
5
4
1
whole
G
1
minor
root mi3↓
G
1
4
4
1
whole
sharp
B
4
4
1
whole
D
1
5
4
1
whole
sharp
G
1
diminished
root mi3↓
G
1
4
4
1
whole
sharp
B
4
4
1
whole
D
5
4
1
whole
G
augmented
root ma3↓
G
4
4
1
whole
B
4
4
1
whole
D
1
5
4
1
whole
sharp
1
5
B
4
4
1
whole
E
major
root p5↓
E
4
4
1
whole
G
1
4
4
1
whole
sharp
B
4
4
1
whole
E
minor
root p5↓
E
4
4
1
whole
G
4
4
1
whole
B
4
4
1
whole
E
1
diminished
root d5↓
E
1
4
4
1
whole
sharp
G
1
4
4
1
whole
sharp
B
4
4
1
whole
E
-1
augmented
root a5↓
E
-1
4
4
1
whole
flat
G
4
4
1
whole
B
4
4
1
whole