Quick Guide #9: Triads and Barre Chords

Any three random notes can be a chord, but three notes in the right arrangement form a triad.
There are four types of triads to know. Memorize their structure, how many half steps are between their notes,
and the symbol used to denote them.

Major Diminished ( o ) Augmented (+)

w w w w
Minor (m)
1-3-5 1 - b3 - 5 1 - b 3 - b5 1 - 3 - #5
C Triad: C E G Cm Triad: C Eb G Co Triad: C Eb Gb C+ Triad: C E G#

3
minor third

w 4
major third

w 3

w 4
major third

w
w w w w
minor third
7
perfect fifth
7
perfect fifth
6
tritone
8
augmented
fifth
4 3 3 4
major third minor third minor third major third

root root root root

x x x x x x x x
x x x x
x x x x
x x x
x x x x
x x x x
10 8 10 8 10 8 10 8

Diminished
o
The " " symbol refers to a diminished triad, though it is rare to see a lone diminished triad in music. Often, an
extra tone is added above the diminished triad to form a full diminished chord or a half diminished chord.
The phrase "Diminished Chord" is often reserved for a Full Diminished or Half Diminished chord. Avoid calling a
diminished triad by the name "diminished chord" to reduce confusion.

Enharmonics and Spelling

When writing and naming triads, it is important to skip a letter between each note of the triad.
A C Minor triad should be written as C Eb G, and not as C D# G, even though these are the same notes.

Movable Chords and Barre Chords

These shapes can be moved up and down on the fretboard without changing finger positions

Major Minor Diminished Augmented

6th String Root

1 1
1 1
2 1
4 4
3 3
1 1
x x
x 2
1 2
3 3
2 4
1 1

5th string root

1 1
3 2
3 3
3 3
1 1
x x
4th string root
x x
2 1
3 1
2 2
1 3
x x
8

1 1 2 1
1 1 4 2
2 1 2 2
4 4 1 3
x x x x
x x x x