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Naming Triads

Module by: Catherine Schmidt-Jones. E-mail the author

Summary: The name of a chord depends on the intervals between its notes when the chord is in root position.

The position that a chord is in does make a difference in how it sounds, but it is a fairly small difference. Listen to a G major chord in three different positions.

Figure 1: G major chord in three different positions.
Figure 1 (nametriads1.png)

A much bigger difference in the chord's sound comes from the intervals between the root-position notes of the chord. For example, if the B in one of the chords above was changed to a B flat, you would still have a G triad, but the chord would now sound very different. So chords are named according to the intervals between the notes when the chord is in root position. Listen to four different G chords.

Figure 2: These are also all G chords, but they are four different G chords. The intervals between the notes are different, so the chords sound very different.
Figure 2 (nametriads2.png)

Major and Minor Chords

The most commonly used triads form major chords and minor chords. All major chords and minor chords have an interval of a perfect fifth between the root and the fifth of the chord. A perfect fifth (7 half-steps) can be divided into a major third (4 half-steps) plus a minor third (3 half-steps). If the interval between the root and the third of the chord is the major third (with the minor third between the third and the fifth of the chord), the triad is a major chord. If the interval between the root and the third of the chord is the minor third (and the major third is between the third and fifth of the chord), then the triad is a minor chord. Listen closely to a major triad and a minor triad.

Example 1

Figure 3
Figure 3 (nametriads3.png)

Example 2

Figure 4
Some Major and Minor Triads
Some Major and Minor Triads (Mmtriads.png)

Exercise 1

Write the major chord for each root given.

Figure 5
Figure 5 (nametriadsprob1.png)
[ Show Solution ]

Exercise 2

Write the minor chord for each root given.

Figure 7
Figure 7 (nametriadsprob1.png)
[ Show Solution ]

Augmented and Diminished Chords

Because they don't contain a perfect fifth, augmented and diminished chords have an unsettled feeling and are normally used sparingly. An augmented chord is built from two major thirds, which adds up to an augmented fifth. A diminished chord is built from two minor thirds, which add up to a diminished fifth. Listen closely to an augmented triad and a diminished triad.

Example 3

Figure 9
Some Augmented and Diminished Triads
Some Augmented and Diminished Triads (nametriads8.png)

Exercise 3

Write the augmented triad for each root given.

Figure 10
Figure 10 (nametriadsprob1.png)
[ Show Solution ]

Exercise 4

Write the diminished triad for each root given.

Figure 12
Figure 12 (nametriadsprob1.png)
[ Show Solution ]

Notice that you can't avoid double sharps or double flats by writing the note on a different space or line. If you change the spelling of a chord's notes, you have also changed the chord's name. For example, if, in an augmented G sharp major chord, you rewrite the D double sharp as an E natural, the triad becomes an E augmented chord.

Figure 14: Changing the spelling of any note in a chord also changes the chord's name.
Figure 14 (nametriads13.png)

You can put the chord in a different position or add more of the same-named notes at other octaves without changing the name of the chord. But changing the note names or adding different-named notes, will change the name of the chord. Here is a summary of the intervals in triads in root position.

Figure 15
Figure 15 (nametriads14.png)

Exercise 5

Now see if you can identify these chords that are not necessarily in root position. Rewrite them in root position first if that helps.

Figure 16
Figure 16 (nametriadsprob5.png)
[ Show Solution ]

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