Chord Construction–Triads

Lesson 3/76 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Beginner Music Theory

Chord Construction–Triads

Chords are usually made up of combinations of major and minor third intervals. As mentioned previously, the simplest chords are made up of three notes and are called triads. There are four basic types of triads: major, minor, augmented and diminished.

Examples of each of these are shown below along with the formula for each one.

C Major Chord

C Minor Chord

C Augmented Chord

C Diminished Chord

Using the formulas on the previous page, you can easily work out the notes for any type of triad beginning on any note. E.g, to form an A major chord you would begin with the note A and then add a major 3rd above it (C#) and then a minor 3rd above that (E). To form a D# diminished chord, you would begin with a D# note and then add a minor 3rd above it (F#) and then another minor 3rd above that (A). To help you become more familiar with the four types of triads, write the required notes above the root notes shown below to create the triads indicated.

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Class Sessions

1- Dotted Notes 2- Tones and Semitones 3- The Major Scale 4- Dynamics 5- Keys and Key Signatures 6- Transposing 7- Sixteenth Notes 8- Leger Lines 9- Simple and Compound Time 10- Intervals 11- Chords 12- INTRODUCTION 13- Note Values 14- GLOSSARY OF MUSICAL TERMS 15- Chord Inversions 16- How to Read Music 17- LESSON TWO 18- Minor Keys and Scales 19- Accidentals 20- Sharps 21- The Octave 22- Learning Minor Scales in all Keys 23- The Key Cycle 24- Chord Construction–Triads 25- G Major Chord Inversions 26- Exercises 27- Six Eight Time 28- Using the Compact Disc 29- Interval Qualities 30- Notes on the Treble Staff 31- Exercises 32- Grouping Eighth Notes 33- Volume Changes 34- Exercises 35- Bar Lines 36- Double Sharps and Double Flats 37- The Lead-in 38- Enharmonic Notes 39- Grouping Notes in Compound Time 40- Interval Distances 41- Time Signatures 42- Grouping Notes and Rests 43- The Grand Staff 44- Exercises 45- Exercises 46- Relative Keys 47- Approach to Practice 48- Major Scales in all Keys 49- Tempo Markings 50- The Chromatic Scale 51- Scale Degrees 52- Tempo Changes 53- Slurs 54- Final Exercises 55- Flats 56- Arpeggios 57- Chord Symbols 58- C Major Scale Over Four Octaves 59- Exercises 60- Rests 61- Exercises 62- Exercises 63- Staccato 64- Exercises 65- Exercises 66- Twelve Eight Time 67- Major Scale Pattern 68- Identifying Intervals by Ear 69- Exercises 70- Exercises 71- The G Major Scale 72- Ties 73- Exercises 74- The F Major Scale 75- Other Major Scales 76- Exercises

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Chord Construction–Triads