Piano Theory Blog #6: Nov. 29th, 2019
- Skylar Ji
- Nov 29, 2019
- 2 min read
Today, I started to learn about chords, which is a combination of three or more notes. Chords are built off a single note, which is called the root. The simplest type of chord is called a triad, which is created with a root, a third, and a fifth. There are four types of triads:
The Major Triad (a major chord) is a group of three notes consisting of the root, the major third of the root, and the perfect fifth of the root. The major third of the root is four half steps above the root, and a perfect fifth is seven half steps from the root.
For example, in order to construct a C major triad, we will take the major third and the perfect fifth of C, which results in the notes C-E-G.
The Minor Triad is a group of three notes consisting of the root, the minor third, and the perfect fifth. It is pretty much the same as a major triad, except that the minor third is three half steps above the root instead of four from the major triad.
Ex. The C minor triad is C-Eb-G
The Augmented Triad is built with the root, the major third, and the augmented fifth. A major third is four half steps above the root, and the augmented fifth is eight half steps above the root instead of seven from the perfect fifth.
Ex. The C augmented triad is C-E-G#
Finally, The Diminished Triad is built with the root, the minor third, and the diminished fifth. A minor third is three half steps above the root, and a diminished fifth is six half steps above the root instead of seven from the perfect fifth.
Ex. The C diminished triad is C-Eb-Gb
Link to website: https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/40
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