TH100 (Baker)

Triad Basics
A quick reference for triad labels, diatonic qualities, inversions, and FB abbreviations.

TRIAD QUALITIES, CHORD SYMBOLS & RNs

Triad quality diminished minor major augmented

Triad as a stack of 3rds m3 – m3 m3 – M3 M3 – m3 M3 – M3

Chord symbol
(X = root; slash for inversion)
Xo Xm X X+

Other chord symbols Xdim X- XM, Xmaj Xaug

Diatonic RNs in major keys viio ii iii vi I IV V N/A

III IV V
Diatonic RNs in minor keys* iio vio viio i ii iv v N/A
VI VII

TRIAD INVERSIONS & THEIR FB ABBREVIATIONS

Triad inversion Root position 1st inversion 2nd inversion

Chord member in bass chordal root chordal 3rd chordal 5th

Full FB 5/3 6/3 6/4

FB abbreviation [blank] 6 6/4

*In this minor-key row, black RNs use ↓6 or ↑7 by default; red RNs use ↑6, while blue RNs use ↓7.