C Major Triad; 1-3-5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
C D E F G A B
Inversions:
To invert a chord, move the bottom note up an octave. A root-position C triad is spelled C E G. Moving the C (the bottom note) up an octave yields E G C. A major triad with the third in the bottom is called a triad in first inversion. To get a second inversion triad, move the E up an octave, giving you G C E. A triad with the fifth of the chord in the bass is called a triad in second inversion.
Formula Fretboard View:
1rst Inversion: 3,1,5
2nd Inversion: 5,1,3
Major Triads:
Inversions:
To invert a chord, move the bottom note up an octave. A root-position C triad is spelled C E G. Moving the C (the bottom note) up an octave yields E G C. A major triad with the third in the bottom is called a triad in first inversion. To get a second inversion triad, move the E up an octave, giving you G C E. A triad with the fifth of the chord in the bass is called a triad in second inversion.
Formula Fretboard View:
1rst Inversion: 3,1,5
2nd Inversion: 5,1,3
Major Triads:
| Root Position | First Inversion | Second Inversion |
|---|---|---|
| C-E-G | E-G-C | G-C-E |
| F-A-C | A-C-F | C-F-A |
| Bb-D-F | D-F-Bb | F-Bb-D |
| Eb-G-Bb | G-Bb-Eb | Bb-Eb-G |
| Ab-C-Eb | C-Eb-Ab | Eb-Ab-C |
| Bb-D-F | D-F-Bb | F-Bb-D |
| Db-F-Ab | F-Ab-Db | Ab-Db-F |
| Gb-Bb-Db | Bb-Db-Gb | Db-Gb-Bb |
| B-D#-F# | D#-F#-B | F#-B-D# |
| E-G#-B | G#-B-E | B-E-G# |
| A-C#-E | C#-E-A | E-A-C# |
| D-F#-A | F#-A-D | A-D-F# |
| G-B-D | B-D-G | D-G-B |
Major Triads Up and Across the Fretboard
Note: 1st inversion: 3rd is on bottom (bass note), 2nd inversion, 3rd is on top (treble)
Fretboard: The distance between the root and the 3rd interval is always four frets. The distance between the 3rd and the 5th is 3 frets. And the distance between the root and the 5th is 7 frets.
Tips for Memorization:
Start with memorizing just the roots A,B,C,D,E,F,G and just shift the pitch higher or lower for 1,3,5 when looking for Ab,Bb,Db,Eb,Gb triads.
C-E-G
C#-F-G#
There are no sharps or flats on the Major Triad of C, F, or G.
C-E-G
F-A-C
G-B-D
There is 1 incidental (sharp / flat) on the Major Triad of Bb, E, A,D.
Bb-D-F
E-G#-B
A-C#-E
D-F#-A
There are two incidentals (sharps / flats) on the Major Triad of Db,Eb,Ab,B.
Db-F-Ab
Eb-G-Bb
Ab-C-Eb
B-D#-F#
There are three incidentals (sharps / flats) on the Major Triad of Gb or F#.
Gb-Bb-Db
F#-A#-C#
Minor Triads Up and Across the Fretboard
Note: 1st inversion: 3rd is on bottom (bass note), 2nd inversion, 3rd is on top (treble)
Augmented Triads
The augmented triad consists of two major thirds. Built from C, that yields C E G. The notes are the same as a major triad with a sharped fifth. The G is an augmented fifth away from C, hence the name. Wherever you can play a major triad on the neck, raising the fifth of the chord will result in an augmented triad.
Diminished Triads
The diminished triad consists of two minor thirds. Building from C, we get C E G. The diminished triad gets its name from the quality of its diminished-fifth interval. Diminished triads can be seen as similar to minor triads, but with a flatted-fifth.
