Introduction to Triads

When I learned how to play triads, it felt like magic.

You might think that triads are some boring music theory, but I promise you: they are not. Instead, triads are a useful little trick, fantastic as a second guitar part, and for creating riffs. 

In this lesson, we'll explore how you can easily incorporate triad chords in your guitar playing. That's a nice little jamming trick, and I hope you dig it as much as I do!

Now let's get started.

 

Before We Start

You must never forget we're studying music, and music is a listening and feeling thing, more than a thinking thing. :) As you learn this bit of theory about triads, make sure you use them to make music. 

Before we go any further, take some time to listen to great real-world uses of triads. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison uses triads as a second guitar part. You can hear them picked out and moved around. That's the song that helped me understand triad chords - and that might turn the light bulb on for you too!

If you're a Dire Straits fan, So Far Away uses a whole heap of triad shapes for the main riff. And last but not least, the main riff in Substitute by The Who uses the grips we'll learn in this lesson, and a few more.

 

What Are Triad Chords?

Triads are 3-note chords. There are some repeated notes in the E Shape Major Barre Chord, but we're just playing three notes when playing Triad Grips, and we don't double any of them! We can name these triad shapes as the full name like G Major or G Minor or just the note name if it's a Major (i.e., G). To be super specific, we might use the term triad (i.e., G Maj Triad), but that wouldn't be common.

There are 3 different shapes for triad chords, and in this lesson, we'll be learning Shape 1. Let's take a look at it!

 

Triad Chord - Root 1

Shape 1 uses the top 3 strings of the E Shape Barre chord, so it should be pretty easy for you at this point - both Major and Minor. The Major uses just fingers 1 and 2, and the Minor is simply a barre for Finger 1 on the thinnest three strings.

Memorize the shapes and remember the root is on String 1! Take a look at the following diagrams:

 

How to Use Triads on Guitar

One of the best things about triads is using them to jam! If you're playing with someone else, they can play the strumming pattern, and you can play some triads using the same key! It sounds great, and it's loads of fun. Let me show you how to jam with triads. :)

As I don't have a jam buddy around, I'll just use my looper pedal for this lesson. I'll play one of the most common chord sequences of all time: C, G, Am, and F. Over that, I'll use some triads and jump the shape around my fretboard.

🚨 Notice that, when playing triads, we don't tend to strum the strings as we do when playing other grips. With triads, we usually pick out individual notes - and that's what I recommend you do at this point. 

Another cool trick you can try is playing triad chords short and cut. You can play like short riffs, some reggae... Give it a try! See what you can do from it. ;)

Now it's your turn - just set a rhythm and play! I promise it's easy and sounds fantastic.

How To Mute Strings

When you're playing triads on the thinnest three strings, you must keep the thickest rings muted. You'd typically do this with the inside palm of your strumming hand. Sometimes, you might mute the fourth string with the tip of whichever finger is fretting a note on the third string, but this would be supplemental. You should be aiming to mute the thickest three strings with your strumming hand palm.

 

Triads & Inversions

I often hear of people explaining triads as inversions, which technically they are, I guess. But usually, inversions imply a different bases note to the chord. For example, the G Chord should have a G-bass note. If the G Chord has a B-bass note, it's referred to as a first inversion chord. If the G chord has a D bass note, we will refer to it as a second inversion chord.

Usually, when you play triads, the bass player plays a consistent bass note, so it doesn't matter what the lowest note is of your triad shape. It’s not the bass note. So, I don't recommend that you think of these triad shapes as being inversions. Technically they are, but it's too complicated, and you're better off thinking of them as just different ways of playing the chord.

How to Practice Triad Chords

It's time for some practice! Here's my suggestion to help you make the most out of your time.

 

Practice Item - 10 minutes

Let’s get these into use! The best way to practice triad is by actually playing them! The grips shouldn't be much of a struggle if you're comfortable playing and moving around the E Shape Barre Chord, eh? ;)

Now, find an easy song that uses Triads, and you're comfortable playing it. Then, see if you can jam along with it using the Root 1 grips. Pick the notes out in a pattern or randomly. Experiment. Can you strum them? Or play them all together but very short? 

You can always use the same string root for them all too - or mix it all up. Get playful with it. Curiosity is the father of invention! :)

 

Before You Move On

This is the last lesson of our E Shape Barre Chord studies for Grade 4! Before you move on to the next grade, make sure you're comfortable and can play everything we've learned so far. Here's a recap:

 

E Shape Major Barre Chords

Learn the E Shape Major and all my secrets to easily play barre chords. Don't forget: get down the basics before moving further will help you move faster. ;)

E Shape Minor Barre Chords

Minor E Shape Barres are harder to play than Major E Shape Barres. Make sure you nail them! 
 

E Shape 7th Dominant Chords

Dominant 7th Grips are a bit everywhere! Learn how to play them and an alternative fingering to sound cooler.
 

Note Function 1

Understanding the function of each note in a chord will help you unleash the fretboard and your guitar playing!
 

First Triads

Please - try to go jamming! That's an awesome thing all rhythm guitar players should explore, and triads are the little secret! ;)

 

In Grade 5, we'll learn the A Shape Barre Chord - and new challenges will appear! There's a reason why I recommend you to nail the E Shape before moving further - trust me here, that will be a big help later on in your guitar journey. Take the time to explore this muscle - you're developing not only your musicianship but your hand muscles. Hand strength is essential to help you play clean, good-sounding chords on the guitar, making sure you don't skip any essential practice. 

Good Luck! See You In Grade 5!