The 12 major triads 11

Chordpiano-Workshop Part II
Lesson 8
Chords you should know, major triads
What happens, if you do not know the relationship and do not know what scale
the notes of the chord come from? Then simply build the chords using intervals.
Chords are made up of thirds: 8+3+3 is a triad, that means a root note plus a
third upwards and then plus another third upwards makes a triad.
Major triad or minor triad? Major triads sound bright and minor triads sound
sad. The difference is in the sound and also in the layer sequence of the major
and minor thirds.
Minor triad Major triad

Major triad F Minor triad Fm

= major third + minor third = minor third + major third

= Triad
F
A
C

Third
Fifth
Third
F
To form a major triad:
Select any of the 12 notes and call it the root note.
In the following example, the root note is F.
Then layer on the note, which is a major third higher - this is the A note.
On top of this you should layer a minor third - this is the C note.
Together, these notes make up the F major triad.
The 12 major triads
The 12 major triads 12
Chordpiano-Workshop Part II
G left hand: Root position / ffth position
chord notes G-B-D: D is ffth above
G right hand: Root position / ffth position
chord notes G-B-D: D is ffth above
The triad G
The triad F
F right hand: Root position / ffth position
chord notes F-A-C: C

is ffth above
F left hand: Root position / ffth position
chord notes F-A-C: C is ffth above
Right hand Left hand
F
F
A
C
F
F
A
C
3 1 3 1
F
1 3 5 5 3 1
F
Right hand Left hand
3 1
1 3 5
G
G
G
B
D
3 1
1 3 5
G
G
G
B
D
The 12 major triads 13
If you want to learn more about:
- Find the melody, rhythm and chords in a piece
- Quickly detect a recorded melody
- Find the key and corresponding notes
- Melody, harmony and rhythm
- First motifs, melodies and chords
Then click here and fnd out using
the Chordpiano-Workshop
Chordpiano-Workshop Part II