6 Exercises That Are Helping Beginners Master Major And Minor Triads

You are on this page because you’re interested in learning how to master major and minor triads.

Major and minor triads are very important harmonies. A vast majority of the songs we hear or play are basically made up of chord progressions and these chord progressions can be broken down to major and minor triads.

We’ll be investing the next ten minutes or so into learning how these vital chord types (major and minor chords) can be mastered using 6 exercises.

A Quick Review On Major And Minor Triads

A triad is a collection of three related notes (agreeable or not) which may be played or heard together.

A triad is basically a chord of three notes consisting of a root, third, and fifth tone. Although there are major, minor, augmented, and diminished triads, our focus in this lesson is on major and minor triads.

A Short Note On Major Triads

A triad is classified as being a major triad if the interval between its root and third tone is a major third interval. For example, the C major triad:

…is classified as a major triad because the interval between its root (C) and third tone (E):

…is a major third interval.

The major triad is a product of the relationship between the first, third, and fifth tone of the major scale. This scale relationship between the tones of the major triad should also be noted because it is helpful in chord formation.

Using the D major scale:

…the D major triad can be formed when the first, third, and fifth tones (D, F#, and A):

…are played or heard together.

Minor Triads — Explained

In minor triads, the interval between the first and third tones is a minor third interval. In the C minor triad:

…the interval between C and Eb (which are its first and third tones):

…is a minor third interval.

Lowering the third tone of any given major triad by a half-step produces a corresponding minor triad. For example, using the C major triad:

…a corresponding minor triad (C minor triad) can be formed by lowering the third tone of the C major triad (which is E):

…by a half-step (to Eb):

…produces the C minor triad:

Beginners’ Exercises For The Mastery Of Major And Minor Triads

The goal of these exercises is to help you master major and minor triads and their inversions as well.

Although this exercise might be challenging at first, however, if you are consistent at practicing it, you’ll eventually attain your intended level of mastering major and minor triads.

Exercise #1 – Root Position Of The Major Triad

Attention: You have twelve root position triads and you’re expected to play them as follows:

1 triad per count

2 triads per count

4 triads per count

…starting from a comfortable tempo to a challenging one.

“Alright, Let’s Get Started!”

The C major triad:

The Db major triad:

The D major triad:

The Eb major triad:

The E major triad:

The F major triad:

The Gb major triad:

The G major triad:

The Ab major triad:

The A major triad:

The Bb major triad:

The B major triad:

Exercise #2 – First Inversion Of The Major Triad

Attention: You have twelve first inversion triads and you’re expected to play them as follows:

1 triad per count/tap

2 triads per count/tap

4 triads per count/tap

…starting from a comfortable tempo to a challenging one.

“Alright, Let’s Get Started!”

The C major triad:

The Db major triad:

The D major triad:

The Eb major triad:

The E major triad:

The F major triad:

The Gb major triad:

The G major triad:

The Ab major triad:

The A major triad:

The Bb major triad:

The B major triad:

Exercise #3 – Second Inversion Of The Major Triad

Attention: You have twelve second inversion triads and you’re expected to play them as follows:

1 triad per count/tap

2 triads per count/tap

4 triads per count/tap

…starting from a comfortable tempo to a challenging one.

“Alright, Let’s Get Started!”

The C major triad:

The Db major triad:

The D major triad:

The Eb major triad:

The E major triad:

The F major triad:

The Gb major triad:

The G major triad:

The Ab major triad:

The A major triad:

The Bb major triad:

The B major triad:

Exercise #4 – Root Position Of The Minor Triad

Attention: You have twelve root position triads and you’re expected to play them as follows:

1 triad per count

2 triads per count

4 triads per count

…starting from a comfortable tempo to a challenging one.

“Alright, Let’s Get Started!”

The C minor triad:

The C# minor triad:

The D minor triad:

The Eb minor triad:

The E minor triad:

The F minor triad:

The F# minor triad:

The G minor triad:

The G# minor triad:

The A minor triad:

The Bb minor triad:

The B minor triad:

Exercise #5 – First Inversion Of The Minor Triad

Attention: You have twelve first inversion triads and you’re expected to play them as follows:

1 triad per count

2 triads per count

4 triads per count

…starting from a comfortable tempo to a challenging one.

“Alright, Let’s Get Started!”

The C minor triad:

The C# minor triad:

The D minor triad:

The Eb minor triad:

The E minor triad:

The F minor triad:

The F# minor triad:

The G minor triad:

The G# minor triad:

The A minor triad:

The Bb minor triad:

The B minor triad:

Exercise #6 – Second Inversion Of The Minor Triad

Attention: You have twelve second inversion triads and you’re expected to play them as follows:

1 triad per count

2 triads per count

4 triads per count

…starting from a comfortable tempo to a challenging one.

“Alright, Let’s Get Started!”

The C minor triad:

The C# minor triad:

The D minor triad:

The Eb minor triad:

The E minor triad:

The F minor triad:

The F# minor triad:

The G minor triad:

The G# minor triad:

The A minor triad:

The Bb minor triad:

The B minor triad:

Final Words

It is recommended that you make the exercises covered in this lesson a part of your daily warm-up routine because mastery comes with dedicated practice and devotion.

Keep up with the great work and see you in the next lesson.

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Chuku Onyemachi

Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group

Onyemachi "Onye" Chuku is a Nigerian musicologist, pianist, and author. Inspired by his role model (Jermaine Griggs) who has become his mentor, what he started off as teaching musicians in his Aba-Nigeria neighborhood in April 2005 eventually morphed into an international career that has helped hundreds of thousands of musicians all around the world. Onye lives in Dubai and is currently the Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group and the music consultant of the Gospel Music Training Center, all in California, USA.

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Tagged as: major and minor triads, major triads, master major and minor triads, master major triads, master minor triads, minor triads