Broken chords

About 2 min to read, then 5 practice questions

One at a time

G, B and D, one at a time

The notes of a triad can also be played one after another instead of together. That is a broken chord. The notes can come in any order.

Quick check

Which tonic triad do these notes make?

Stack them to find the key

Stacked in 3rds: F, A, C

To find the key, collect the notes and stack them in 3rds. The lowest note of the stack is the tonic, whichever note the music starts on. Here the stack is F, A, C, so the tonic is F.

Quick check

This broken chord starts on D. Which key's tonic triad is it?

Remember

A broken chord plays the triad's notes one after another.
Stack the notes in 3rds. The lowest is the tonic.

Practise this: 5 questions, about 4 min

Answering from memory soon after reading is what makes it stick, so now is a good time.

XP for every question right first time
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