Understanding Triads on Guitar
Triads are the foundation of most of the music you’ll ever play and understanding them can transform the way you see the fretboard.
What Is a Triad?
A triad is a chord made up of three notes:
- Root – the starting note that gives the chord its name (e.g., C in a C chord).
- Third – tells us if the chord is major (happy/bright) or minor (sad/darker).
- Fifth – adds stability and fullness to the chord.
Put together these three notes form the basic structure of almost every chord you’ll use.
Types of Triads
There are four main kinds of triads:
- Major Triad – bright, happy sound (e.g. C major).
- Minor Triad – darker, sadder sound (e.g. A minor).
- Diminished Triad – tense, dramatic sound.
- Augmented Triad – unusual, mysterious sound.
For beginners, major and minor triads are the most important to start with.
Why Learn Triads on Guitar?
- Simplify chord shapes: You don’t always need to play big, full chords. Triads give you smaller versions of the same harmony.
- Unlock the fretboard: Triads show you how the same chord can be played in many places across the neck.
- Improve rhythm and lead playing: Great for adding texture, riffs, and chord fills.
- Build theory knowledge: Helps you understand how chords and scales connect.
Practical Examples
- The open C chord is a C major triad (C–E–G).
- The open Am chord is an A minor triad (A–C–E).
- Playing only the top three strings of these chords gives you a triad shape you can move around the neck.
Next Steps
Once you understand triads, you’ll start to see how they fit into songs, solos and chord progressions. They’re one of the quickest ways to make your playing sound more professional.