Guitar Chords: Triads

Guitar Triads are a group of 3 notes that form a major or minor chord

A chord is made up of at least 3 notes of a scale; the first or root note, the third and the fifth, which is the formula for a major C chord. These three notes are also known as a triad.

Major triads are formed by the first (root), third, and fifth notes from the major scale. Minor triads are formed by the first (root), flat third, and fifth notes of the major scale. Other guitar chords such as open and barre chords use the same three notes of a triad multiple times in the chord.

GUITAR TRIADS

Major Triads - learn how to build major triads and chords on different strings and neck positions.

Minor Triads - learn how to build minor triads and chords on different strings and neck positions.

Notes Used to Create Major and Minor Triads or Chords

Major Chords

  • C - C E G
  • D - D F# A
  • E - E G# B
  • F - F A C
  • G - G B D
  • A - A C# E
  • B - B D# F#

Minor Chords

  • Cm - C D# G
  • Dm - D F A
  • Em - E G B
  • Fm - F G# C
  • Gm - G A# D
  • Am - A C E
  • B - B D F#

The Notes of the C Major Scale, the notes in red are used to create a C Major Triad or Chord.

C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Different chord voicings are created by adding more notes from the scale. For instance, a seventh chord is made by adding the seventh note of the scale to the first, third, and fifth notes.

More Guitar Chords

Guitar Chord Charts by Root Note: C | D | E | F | G | A | B

Triads | Power Chords | Barre Chords | Open Chords | Seventh Chords

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