It's Like Magic - Learn 9 Triads and Know 540 Chords!
If we were asked to memorize 540 different chord blocks (finger patterns) - it would
probably take us a while to do that. However, by learning just 9 simple triads - like
magic - we automatically know 540 chords! And that's more than enough chords to play
every song you've ever wanted to. Here's how it works...
"Tri" is Greek for three, and in Music a "Triad" usually refers to a chord or arpeggio containing some combination of the tones 1, 3, and 5 from the Major Scale. Let's illustrate the "C Major" scale, chord and arpeggio as letters and tones. (Figure 1)
Triads with combinations of tones other than 135, (Power Chords, sus2 etc.), are called "Clusters" - but that's another lesson. Now, as we've already learned, the Major triad can be played in 5 vertically grouped Forms, on 12 Pitches. So - like magic - we now have 60 Major Chords! 1 Major Triad x 5 Forms x 12 Pitches = 60 Major Chords.
Maybe you know some other triads already - Minor, Suspended, Diminished, Augmented - but how many triads are there really? The simple answer is 9.
Let's think about that.
If we "alter" (flat or sharp) tone 3 of the Major triad, we create two other "Types" of triads: Minor and Suspended. And - like magic - we have 120 MORE Chords!
2 Triads x 5 Forms x 12 Pitches = 120 Chords (Figure 2)
Unfortunately, as I'm sure you've already discovered - there are many different ways to "Symbolize" the chords name! Oh well, let's illustrate the Major, Minor and Suspended triads using circle 4 1. (Figure 3)
Notice that tone #3 (E#) in the Suspended triad sounds the same as tone 4 (F). This is called "Enharmonic", which means "the same pitch" but NOT the same letter or tone number. Remember, all letters and tones may be sharped or flatted - EXCEPT tone 1. If you sharp or flat tone 1 - you've changed the Key!
Now, if we "alter" (flat or sharp) tone 5 of the major, minor and suspended triads, we create six additional triads. And once again - like magic - we have 360 MORE Chords! 6 Triads x 5 Forms x 12 Pitches = 360 Chords. (Figures 4 through 9)
Notice that the "Augmented" triad is also know as "Major Sharp Five" and that the "Diminished" triad is also know as "Minor Flat Five". These are "Enharmonic Chords". In other words, chords that sound the same (contain the same pitches), but have different names. (Figure 10 and 11)
And now by adding the 9 triads together - like magic - we have our 540 Chords!
9 Triads x 5 Forms x 12 Pitches = 540 Chords.
Did someone say - Fretboard Flashcards?
So till next time, try a little magic -
and have some fun playing what you've always wanted to...
Return to Accomplished Lessons
"Tri" is Greek for three, and in Music a "Triad" usually refers to a chord or arpeggio containing some combination of the tones 1, 3, and 5 from the Major Scale. Let's illustrate the "C Major" scale, chord and arpeggio as letters and tones. (Figure 1)
Triads with combinations of tones other than 135, (Power Chords, sus2 etc.), are called "Clusters" - but that's another lesson. Now, as we've already learned, the Major triad can be played in 5 vertically grouped Forms, on 12 Pitches. So - like magic - we now have 60 Major Chords! 1 Major Triad x 5 Forms x 12 Pitches = 60 Major Chords.
Maybe you know some other triads already - Minor, Suspended, Diminished, Augmented - but how many triads are there really? The simple answer is 9.
Let's think about that.
If we "alter" (flat or sharp) tone 3 of the Major triad, we create two other "Types" of triads: Minor and Suspended. And - like magic - we have 120 MORE Chords!
2 Triads x 5 Forms x 12 Pitches = 120 Chords (Figure 2)
Unfortunately, as I'm sure you've already discovered - there are many different ways to "Symbolize" the chords name! Oh well, let's illustrate the Major, Minor and Suspended triads using circle 4 1. (Figure 3)
Notice that tone #3 (E#) in the Suspended triad sounds the same as tone 4 (F). This is called "Enharmonic", which means "the same pitch" but NOT the same letter or tone number. Remember, all letters and tones may be sharped or flatted - EXCEPT tone 1. If you sharp or flat tone 1 - you've changed the Key!
Now, if we "alter" (flat or sharp) tone 5 of the major, minor and suspended triads, we create six additional triads. And once again - like magic - we have 360 MORE Chords! 6 Triads x 5 Forms x 12 Pitches = 360 Chords. (Figures 4 through 9)
Notice that the "Augmented" triad is also know as "Major Sharp Five" and that the "Diminished" triad is also know as "Minor Flat Five". These are "Enharmonic Chords". In other words, chords that sound the same (contain the same pitches), but have different names. (Figure 10 and 11)
And now by adding the 9 triads together - like magic - we have our 540 Chords!
9 Triads x 5 Forms x 12 Pitches = 540 Chords.
Did someone say - Fretboard Flashcards?
So till next time, try a little magic -
and have some fun playing what you've always wanted to...