Uploaded January 2017 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Triads are three note chords. The four basic ones we are learning in this video are Major, minor, Augmented, and diminished.
The formulas are as follows, using C as the root:
Major: Formula: 1 3 5 Notes: C E G Symbol: C
minor: Formula: 1 b3 5 Notes: C Eb G Symbol: Cm, Cmin, C-
Augmented: Formula: 1 3 #5 Notes: C E G# Symbol: C+, Caug, C#5
diminished: Formula: 1 b3 b5 Notes: C Eb Gb Symbol: Co, Cdim, cminb5
Major has a happy sound, minor has a sad or dark sound, Augmented has a dissonant, dreamy sound, and so does diminished.
You can practice writing out the triads starting on any note as the root.
Example in G:
Major: G B D
minor G Bb D
Augmented: G B D#
diminished: G Bb Db
All of your open chords or camp fire chords have three notes, sometimes the Root or 3rd or 5th is repeated in an octave.
Quiz yourself by playing the chords you already know and try to figure out what notes make up those chords.
Triads can be played all over the neck and some of the shapes are familiar, as they are the open shapes you already know, like D and Dm, or F, or A and Am.
For Major triad shapes across the fretboard. guitaristsource.com/lessons/chords/triads-major.shtml
For minor triad shapes across the fretboard. guitaristsource.com/lessons/chords/triads-minor.shtml
For Augmented triad shapes across the fretboard.
guitarlessonsbybrian.com/intermediate_17/index.html
For diminished triad shapes across the fretboard.
guitar-theory-in-depth.com/guitar-triads.html
Song examples with triads....
The intro to Eight Days A Week: The Beatles (D Major shape)
The middle section to Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
The verse to Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
Wrong Way by Sublime
Santeria by Sublime
Mexicana Hermosa by Natalia LaFourcade.Here’s a link to my guitar cover of it. youtube.com/watch?v=aoZfyCjiGGk
Call Me Al: Paul Simon
Me And Julio: Paul Simon
Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes: Paul Simon
Augmented chords in songs:
Oh Darling by The Beatles
Cigarettes And Coffee: Otis Redding
It's My Party: Leslie Gore
Lucky Southern: Keith Jarrett
Check out the bridge to my cover of "See You Better" by Paul Pfau, the bridge section has an augmented chord.
Us And Them: Pink Floyd
Examples of diminished chords in songs:
Michelle: The Beatles
Ghost: Indigo Girls
Most Jazz songs
Blues Turnarounds
Triads and organized crime in China
factsanddetails.com/china/cat8/sub50/item300.html
Triads are three note chords. The four basic ones we are learning in this video are Major, minor, Augmented, and diminished.
The formulas are as follows, using C as the root:
Major: Formula: 1 3 5 Notes: C E G Symbol: C
minor: Formula: 1 b3 5 Notes: C Eb G Symbol: Cm, Cmin, C-
Augmented: Formula: 1 3 #5 Notes: C E G# Symbol: C+, Caug, C#5
diminished: Formula: 1 b3 b5 Notes: C Eb Gb Symbol: Co, Cdim, cminb5
Major has a happy sound, minor has a sad or dark sound, Augmented has a dissonant, dreamy sound, and so does diminished.
You can practice writing out the triads starting on any note as the root.
Example in G:
Major: G B D
minor G Bb D
Augmented: G B D#
diminished: G Bb Db
All of your open chords or camp fire chords have three notes, sometimes the Root or 3rd or 5th is repeated in an octave.
Quiz yourself by playing the chords you already know and try to figure out what notes make up those chords.
Triads can be played all over the neck and some of the shapes are familiar, as they are the open shapes you already know, like D and Dm, or F, or A and Am.
For Major triad shapes across the fretboard. guitaristsource.com/lessons/chords/triads-major.shtml
For minor triad shapes across the fretboard. guitaristsource.com/lessons/chords/triads-minor.shtml
For Augmented triad shapes across the fretboard.
guitarlessonsbybrian.com/intermediate_17/index.html
For diminished triad shapes across the fretboard.
guitar-theory-in-depth.com/guitar-triads.html
Song examples with triads....
The intro to Eight Days A Week: The Beatles (D Major shape)
The middle section to Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
The verse to Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
Wrong Way by Sublime
Santeria by Sublime
Mexicana Hermosa by Natalia LaFourcade.Here’s a link to my guitar cover of it. youtube.com/watch?v=aoZfyCjiGGk
Call Me Al: Paul Simon
Me And Julio: Paul Simon
Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes: Paul Simon
Augmented chords in songs:
Oh Darling by The Beatles
Cigarettes And Coffee: Otis Redding
It's My Party: Leslie Gore
Lucky Southern: Keith Jarrett
Check out the bridge to my cover of "See You Better" by Paul Pfau, the bridge section has an augmented chord.
Us And Them: Pink Floyd
Examples of diminished chords in songs:
Michelle: The Beatles
Ghost: Indigo Girls
Most Jazz songs
Blues Turnarounds
Triads and organized crime in China
factsanddetails.com/china/cat8/sub50/item300.html
