What is a triad?

About 2 min to read, then 5 practice questions

Three notes in 3rds

C, E and G stacked in 3rds

A triad is a chord of three notes. The notes are stacked a 3rd apart. C up to E is a 3rd, and E up to G is another.

Lines or spaces

Three lines in a row, then three spaces in a row

On the stave a triad is easy to spot. Its notes sit on three lines in a row, or three spaces in a row.

Quick check

Where do the notes of this triad sit?

The tonic triad

Degrees 1, 3 and 5 of C major, then stacked

The tonic triad is built on the tonic, the first note of the scale. It uses the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of the scale, with the tonic at the bottom. In C major that is C, E and G.

Quick check

In the tonic triad of C major, which note is the 5th?

Remember

A triad is three notes stacked in 3rds.
Three lines in a row, or three spaces in a row.
The tonic triad: degrees 1, 3 and 5, the tonic at the bottom.

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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