Who this is for
Beginners who know their intervals, especially major and minor thirds. Comfortable building chords already? Test out on Day 6.
Best done after: Intervals. It is advice, not a rule: every lesson has short "rusty on…?" boxes for anything you skipped.
Why learn this
Triads are the three-note chords behind most of the music you hear. Understanding how they are built, rather than memorising shapes, lets you work out any chord on any instrument.
The whole family comes from two kinds of third stacked in four combinations. Once that clicks, major, minor, diminished and augmented are just small changes to one chord.
What you will be able to do
- How a triad is built from two stacked thirds
- Major and minor triads in every key
- Diminished and augmented triads, and how to tell them apart
- Root position, first and second inversion
- Spelling triads correctly in keys with sharps and flats
The 6-day plan
- Stacking thirds. Build major and minor triads on white keys.
- Major and minor in every key. Spell major and minor triads from any root.
- Diminished and augmented. Recognise and build diminished and augmented triads.
- Inversions. Name the inversion and bass note of a triad.
- Triads in every key. Recognise all four triads in any key, including inversions.
- Test day. Prove you can build and recognise any triad.
How each session works
Every day follows the shape of a workout. It starts with a warm-up that reviews earlier days, then technique: a short, plain explanation with a small interactive tool to try it on. Then come the working sets, drills with instant feedback, and a finisher, a short test with a pass mark so you only build on things you can do. A cool-down recaps the day and previews the next.
Choose your split
The daily split is a session a day: done in a week. The easy split is a session every other day, with rest days between: two weeks, and a gentler pace. On your own pace there is no schedule. Nothing is ever locked, and you can change split at any time.
What comes next
Chord Symbols and Lead Sheets: The 5-Day Program or Chord Shapes on Guitar and Ukulele: The 5-Day Program. See the whole training plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is a triad?
A chord of three notes: a root, the note a third above it, and the note a fifth above it. C major is C E G.
How is a major triad different from a minor triad?
Only the middle note moves. Major has a major third (C E G), minor has a minor third (C E♭ G). Lower the third by a half step and major becomes minor.
What is an inversion?
The same chord with a different note in the bass. C E G is root position; E G C is first inversion; G C E is second inversion. It is still called C major.
Do I need to know intervals first?
It helps, because triads are made of thirds. If you are unsure about major and minor thirds, do the intervals program first, or use the refresher boxes in the lessons.