TRIADS

Material in this lesson is adapted from :Bray, K., D. B. Snell and R.M. Peters. For Young Musicians Vol 2. Waterloo ON: Waterloo Music Company Ltd., 1967.

What is a Triad?

That is …

It is the simplest chord in music.A triad consists of any given note with

notes a third and a fifth above it.

The root …

The third …

The fifth …

… or tonic

… or mediant

… or dominant

Within the triad, the different intervals determinewhat type or variant of triad you have.

The third may bemajor

orminor

The fifth may beperfect

ordiminished

oraugmented

So whatare the

different triads?

Major Triad

A major triad is a combinationof a root,

a major third,

and a perfect fifth

Minor Triad

A minor triad is a combinationof a root,

a minor third,

and a perfect fifth

Things to remember:

The intervals in the Major and Minor Triads are allconsonant, so they are called concords or consonant

triads.

They are complete in and of themselves.

The names of the consonant triads arederived from the size of the thirds used.

The fifths in the consonant triads are always perfect.

Augmented Triad

An augmented triad

is a combinationof a root,

a major third,

and an augmented fifth

Diminished Triad

A diminished triad

is a combinationof a root,

a minor third,

and a diminished fifth

Things to remember:

The Augmented and Diminished Triads contain intervals that

are dissonant, so they are called discords or dissonant triads.

They are incomplete by themselves and need a concord or consonant triad to follow them to relieve the tension

they create.

The names of the dissonant triads arederived from the size of the fifths used.

Major DiminishedAugmentedMinor

Remember:1. Major and minor triads have identical fifths2. Major and augmented triads have identical thirds3. Minor and diminished triads have identical thirds4. The root may be any given note

Triads can be built from each note of any scale

Can you name each of the triads above,giving its root and what kind of triad it is?

F + G - A - Bb + C + D - Eo

LET’S PRACTICE!!

Adam Ricci’s Triad Trainer

Adam Ricci’s Chord Ear Trainer