Triads         Triads — The four basic triads (three-tone chords) Here, our focus is on studying and playing root position triads (with no doubled tones) on the fretboard using three-string string-sets. These are the chords we’ll be using to construct our initial chord progressions with. We’ll begin with a quick review of the four basic triads (Major, minor, diminished and augmented) and follow with two comprehensive root-position triad charts. The Major triad The Major triad, our primary reference chord, is composed of a Major-third interval and a perfect-fifth interval. The minor triad The minor triad consists of a minor-third interval and a perfect-fifth. The only difference between the Major and minor triads, then, is the type of third interval used — Major or minor.     Figure 1     Figure 2       Augmented and diminished triads The perfect-fifth interval found in Major and minor triads is the standard or normal fifth of all chord construction. In chord-formula, the perfect-fifth interval is symbolized with a plain unqualified numeral five (5) with no flats or sharps. There are two other types of fifth interval that occur naturally in chords: the raised or augmented-fifth and the lowered or diminished-fifth. Augmented and diminished triads take their names from these intervals — i.e. their fifths. The augmented triad The augmented triad contains a Major-third interval and a raised or augmented-fifth. The diminished triad The diminished triad contains a minor-third interval and a lowered or diminished-fifth.     Figure 3     Figure 4             Figure 5                 The four triads — fretboard plots and fingerings Guitar: View 1, View 2 Lefty Guitar: View 1, View 2 Bass Guitar: View 1, View 2 Inverted Bass triads 1 2 Mandolin and Tenor Banjo: View 1, View 2 Ukulele: View 1, View 2 6 string Viola da Gamba and Lute: View 1, View 2 Make sure to muffle (or do not sound) any strings but those three in use for each triad. Strings not to be played are marked with X’s at the nut.           Guitar triads           Lefty Guitar triads           Bass Guitar triads           Mandolin and Tenor Banjo triads           Ukulele triads                   Next up is scales.     Up to Top of page