The four tonic triads

C, G, D and F

The four Grade 1 tonic triads, each with the tonic at the bottom:

• C major: C E G
• G major: G B D
• D major: D F sharp A
• F major: F A C

D major needs its F sharp

With no key signature, check each note against the key. D major's tonic triad always needs F sharp. Without its sharp, D F A is not D major's triad.

Worked example: the missing note

Two notes of the tonic triad of G major are written: G and D.

1. The tonic is G, the bottom note.
2. The 3rd above G is B: G, A, B.
3. So the missing middle note is B.

Remember

• C E G, G B D, D F sharp A, F A C.
• No key signature: D major's triad needs its F sharp.
• A note missing? Count up from the tonic.