Chords
CHORDS are combination of three or more notes.
TRIADS are chords composed of a root note, the third above it and the fifth above it.
There are four types of triads; MAJOR, MINOR, DIMINISHED and AUGMENTED.
MAJOR TRIADS consists of a major third and a perfect fifth.
TRIADS are chords composed of a root note, the third above it and the fifth above it.
There are four types of triads; MAJOR, MINOR, DIMINISHED and AUGMENTED.
MAJOR TRIADS consists of a major third and a perfect fifth.
MINOR TRIADS consists of a minor third and a perfect fifth.
DIMINISHED TRIADS consists of a minor third and a diminished fifth
AUGMENTED TRIADS consists of a major third and an augmented fifth.
Look at the following triads.
The root note of the triads are the notes of the C major scales.
Triads are named after the scale degree of the root note. For example, the triad on the tonic note is called ‘tonic triad’ and the triad on the dominant is called ‘dominant triad’.
Triads can also be referred to by roman numerals. For example the tonic triad can be referred to as I and the dominant triad can be referred to as V.
The tonic, subdominant and the dominant triads are known as PRIMARY TRIADS or PRIMARY CHORDS. Primary triads are the most important chords in Western music whether classical or modern.
Another important chord in Western music is the DOMINANT SEVENTH CHORD. The dominant seventh chord consists of the root note, the major third, the perfect fifth and a minor seventh. Below is the dominant seventh chord in C major:
Triads are named after the scale degree of the root note. For example, the triad on the tonic note is called ‘tonic triad’ and the triad on the dominant is called ‘dominant triad’.
Triads can also be referred to by roman numerals. For example the tonic triad can be referred to as I and the dominant triad can be referred to as V.
The tonic, subdominant and the dominant triads are known as PRIMARY TRIADS or PRIMARY CHORDS. Primary triads are the most important chords in Western music whether classical or modern.
Another important chord in Western music is the DOMINANT SEVENTH CHORD. The dominant seventh chord consists of the root note, the major third, the perfect fifth and a minor seventh. Below is the dominant seventh chord in C major:
Inversions
Triads can be INVERTED.
The triads we discussed above are all triads in ROOT POSITION where the root is in the bottom. The notes in a triad can be re-arranged so the third or the fifth are at the bottom:
The triads we discussed above are all triads in ROOT POSITION where the root is in the bottom. The notes in a triad can be re-arranged so the third or the fifth are at the bottom:
A triad is in the FIRST INVERSION when the third is at the bottom.
A triad is in the SECOND INVERSION when the fifth is at the bottom.
A triad is in the SECOND INVERSION when the fifth is at the bottom.