So like...is this a fancy word for try-outs, but applied to notes?
In this tutorial, we are going to discuss
2. Triads explained
In music, a triad is a group of 3 notes, played at the same time, which are placed on top of each other on a music sheet. We've already witnessed an example in a previous tutorial.
Of particular interest to us though are the triads formed by having 3 notes, each separated from the previous one by a third. More often than not, when referring to triads, musicians think of the following four types:
The easiest way to construct a major triad is to stack the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of a major scale on top of each other. In the case of your beloved C major scale, the major triad for that is C-E-G. As you can see, we have a major third between C and E and a minor third between E and G.
In order to obtain the other triad variants, all we have to do is apply some accidentals. For example, if we flatten the E note, we get C-E♭-G, which is a C minor triad.
Now, if we sharpen the G note, we get C-E-G♯, which is a C augmented triad. And finally, if we flatten both E and G, we get C-E♭-G♭, which is a C diminished triad.
Here they are in all their splendor:
And here they are played back.
3. Triads, chords, and guitars
Triads are good and all when you want to play a chord and have an instrument with a keyboard handy (e.g. piano, harpsichord, electronic keyboard etc.). But what happens if you want to play an instrument which doesn't have a keyboard, e.g. a violin, a guitar, a cello etc. ?
When it comes to violins and cellos you can at least have an ensemble in which each musician plays a different note (which is what actually happens in orchestras). But when you have a guitar, it's more common that you have a maximum of 2-3 guitar players per band, each serving a different role (e.g. rhythm or lead).
The answer to this dilemma is far simpler than you imagine. While a triad can constitute a chord all by itself, it is not compulsory to have all the notes of it in a chord, on a guitar especially. More often than not, if you have the interval that distinguishes the chord quality (e.g. the major/minor third, or the altered notes for augmented/diminished triads), you're good to go.
Let's take a look at some examples of chord forms that don't make use of the triad on the guitar. The first one is D major (or D, for short):
You can look for the D-F♯-A triad all you want, you're not going to find it anywhere. The notes that are played in this chord are A, D, A, D, and F♯. Another example is its minor counterpart:
Basically any chord that makes use of this form doesn't have the triad present.
And that about covers it for this tutorial. In the next one, we are going to discuss basic chords and chord notations. See you then.
- Topics of discussion
- Triads explained
- Triads, chords, and guitars
In this tutorial, we are going to discuss
2. Triads explained
In music, a triad is a group of 3 notes, played at the same time, which are placed on top of each other on a music sheet. We've already witnessed an example in a previous tutorial.
Of particular interest to us though are the triads formed by having 3 notes, each separated from the previous one by a third. More often than not, when referring to triads, musicians think of the following four types:
- major triad - a triad consisting of a major and minor thirds
- minor triad - a triad consisting of a minor and major thirds
- augmented triad - a triad consisting of two major thirds
- diminished triad - a triad consisting of two minor thirds
The easiest way to construct a major triad is to stack the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of a major scale on top of each other. In the case of your beloved C major scale, the major triad for that is C-E-G. As you can see, we have a major third between C and E and a minor third between E and G.
In order to obtain the other triad variants, all we have to do is apply some accidentals. For example, if we flatten the E note, we get C-E♭-G, which is a C minor triad.
Now, if we sharpen the G note, we get C-E-G♯, which is a C augmented triad. And finally, if we flatten both E and G, we get C-E♭-G♭, which is a C diminished triad.
Here they are in all their splendor:
And here they are played back.
3. Triads, chords, and guitars
Triads are good and all when you want to play a chord and have an instrument with a keyboard handy (e.g. piano, harpsichord, electronic keyboard etc.). But what happens if you want to play an instrument which doesn't have a keyboard, e.g. a violin, a guitar, a cello etc. ?
When it comes to violins and cellos you can at least have an ensemble in which each musician plays a different note (which is what actually happens in orchestras). But when you have a guitar, it's more common that you have a maximum of 2-3 guitar players per band, each serving a different role (e.g. rhythm or lead).
The answer to this dilemma is far simpler than you imagine. While a triad can constitute a chord all by itself, it is not compulsory to have all the notes of it in a chord, on a guitar especially. More often than not, if you have the interval that distinguishes the chord quality (e.g. the major/minor third, or the altered notes for augmented/diminished triads), you're good to go.
Let's take a look at some examples of chord forms that don't make use of the triad on the guitar. The first one is D major (or D, for short):
E|--2--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--0--|
E|-----|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--0--|
E|-----|
You can look for the D-F♯-A triad all you want, you're not going to find it anywhere. The notes that are played in this chord are A, D, A, D, and F♯. Another example is its minor counterpart:
E|--1--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--0--|
E|-----|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--0--|
E|-----|
Basically any chord that makes use of this form doesn't have the triad present.
And that about covers it for this tutorial. In the next one, we are going to discuss basic chords and chord notations. See you then.
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