• How To Form Any Triad Type On The Keyboard In 2 Minutes Or Less

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    In this lesson, you’ll find out how you can easily form any triad type on the keyboard.

    Attention: This lesson is written with the beginners in mind. However, intermediate players can benefit as well.

    Triads are an integral part of harmony in a variety of music styles — classical, gospel, pop, rock, jazz, and so on; and that’s why it’s important for every serious musician to understand how they are formed.

    We’ll start out by defining triads, outlining triad types, before proceeding into learning how these triads can be formed.

    “What Are Triads?”

    The question “what are triads?” can be answered using a variety of definitions. However, according to Jermaine Griggs “a triad consists of a collection of three related notes (agreeable or not) that may be played or heard together.”

    “Let’s Break Down This Definition…”

    Three. The number of notes in a triad is always three — should not be more or less.

    Related notes. The notes of a triad must be related by a particular scale and a fixed distance (aka – “interval”) between successive notes.

    Together. The old English word for together is accord and is one of the root words of the term chord.

    In a nutshell, it takes only three notes to form a triad and these notes must be:

    1. Related
    2. Played/heard together

    Components Of A Triad

    A triad has three components:

    The root

    The third

    The fifth

    The components are derived from the order of the tones in a given scale. For example, the C major triad:

    …can be broken down into the following components:

    C is the root

    E is the third

    G is the fifth

    A closer look at the C major scale:

    …shows that C, E, and G:

    …are the first, third, and fifth tones of the C major scale (respectively).

    So, every scale has three components — a root, a third, and a fifth.

    Four Common Triad Types

    There are four common triad types that are have a common place in the everyday average music:

    The major triad

    The minor triad

    The augmented triad

    The diminished triad

    “Check Them Out…”

    The C major triad:

    The C minor triad:

    The C augmented triad:

    The C diminished triad:

    How To Form Any Triad Type On The Keyboard In 2 Minutes Or Less

    Attention: If you know the major scale in all twelve keys, then you can read beyond this point. But if you don’t, well, all hope is not lost. Check out this lesson on the natural major scale before you proceed.

    Formation Of The Major Triad

    The major triad can be formed using the knowledge of the major scale and this is easier than it sounds.

    The first, third, and fifth tones of any given major scale produces a major triad. For example, the first, third, and fifth tones of the C major scale:

    …which are C, E, and G:

    …produces the C major triad:

    Following the same procedure, you can form any major triad on the keyboard using the major scale. It’s as simple as plunking down the first, third, and fifth tones.

    Attention: Formation of the major triad can only be a walk-over for you if you are familiar with the major scale in all twelve keys.

    Formation Of The Minor Triad

    There are so many ways to approach the formation of the minor triad. However, we’ll apply the knowledge of the major triad in the formation of the minor triad.

    Using any major triad, you can form a corresponding minor triad by lowering the third tone by a half step. For example, using the E major triad:

    ..the E minor triad can be formed by lowering the third tone of the E major triad (which is G#):

    …by a half step (to G):

    This produces the E minor triad:

    Attention: Although this method relies on the major triad, it’s still pretty easy because you can do it within 2 minutes.

    Formation Of The Augmented Triad

    The augmented triad can also be formed using the major triad and this is similar to what we did in the case of the minor triad.

    To form an augmented triad, you’ll need a major triad reference. For example, to form the C augmented triad, you’ll need the C major triad as a reference.

    Raising the fifth tone of the major triad reference produces an augmented triad.

    Using the D major triad:

    ..the D augmented triad can be formed by raising the fifth tone of the D major triad (which is A):

    …by a half step (to A#):

    This produces the D augmented triad:

    Attention: Although this method relies on the major triad, it’s still pretty easy because you can do it within 2 minutes.

    Formation Of The Diminished Triad

    If you’ve been following up on this approach to the formation of triads, then you can also form the diminished triad.

    “I Won’t Bore You With Words…”

    Lowering the third and fifth tones of a major triad reference produces a diminished triad. For example, using the G major triad:

    …the G diminished triad can be formed by lowering the third and fifth tones (which are B and D):

    …by a half-step (to Bb and Db):

    This produces the G diminished triad:

    Attention: Following the same procedure, any diminished triad can be formed.

    Final Words

    Using the practical chord formation tips in this lesson, I have no doubt whatsoever that you can take your chord formation approach to the next level whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate player.

    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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