What are Triads?
A Triad simply means Chord built of 3 tones. In this video we’re going to see all the Triads that exist within the scale.
Let’s see all the Triads that exist in Major fist. In C-Major on the 1st degree we have a Major Chord, it’s called the Tonic. On the second degree we have a Minor Chord, on the third degree another Minor Chord. Fourth degree, Major Chord called the Subdominant, fifth degree – Major Chord called the Dominant, sixth degree – Minor Chord, seventh degree – Dimished Chord.
In Natural Minor on the first degree we have a minor chord called the tonic, on the second degree we have a diminished chord, third degree – Major Chord, fourth degree – minor chord called the Subdominant, on the fifth degree we have a minor chord but it’s not called a Dominant Chord because the Dominant Chord must be a Major one, on the sixt degree we have a Major Chord and on the sventh degree also a Major Chord.
In Harmonic Minor on the first degree we have a minor chord called the Tonic. On the second degree we have a diminished chord, on the third degree we have an Augmented Chord and this chord can be called a Dominant Chord, on the fourth degree we have a minor chord called the Subdominant, on the fifth degree we have a Major Chord and this is also a Dominant Chord so in Harmonic Minor we have two Dominant Chords, on the sixth degree we have a Major Chord and on the seventh a Diminished Chord.
In Melodic Minor on the first degree we have a minor chord called the Tonic. On the second degree we have a minor chord, on the third degree we have an Augmented Chord, which can also be called a Dominant Chord, on the fourth degree we have a Major chord called the Subdominant, on the fifth degree we have a Major Chord and this is also a Dominant Chord, on the sixth degree we have a Diminished Chord and on the seventh also we have a Diminished Chord. So as you can see in Melodic Minor we have also two different Dominant Chords and two diminished chords.
Now make sure that you learn all these Triads to the point of not loking at the keyboard so when I ask you which type of Triad we have on a particular degree in Major or Minor you will be able to answer me right away. When you know the Triads in this way you will be able to recall them in every other key signature that’s not C-Major or C-Minor. Because everything seems easy in these two key signatures. But when you try to build them in other tonalities you might stuck very quickly and music doesn’t allow this type of comfort.
After you learn them in C-Major and C-Minor or A-Minor then play them in all the other key signatures by following the circle of fifths. Then on the next video i am going to test you by asking you questions. I will ask you for example, what Triad do we have on 3rd degree in natural minor and I will give you few seconds to think and then i will pronounce the answer. So it will be stirctly theoretical. The same rules apply from the previous tests, if you forgot about them you can refer to the video called “Preparation An Interval Test”. It’s the best if can pass the test without any mistake.