Triads, etc.

Question 2

What is the formula for any Major Triad?

Answer 2

1 3 5 of any major scale

Example: C major triad is C E G

C (1st note of C major scale)

E (3rd note of C major scale)

G (5th note of C major scale)

C Major Triad Chord Symbol: C

Question 3

What is the formula for any Minor Triad?

Answer 3

1 b3 5 of any major scale

Example: C minor triad is C Eb G

C (1st note of C major scale)

Eb (flat 3rd note of C major scale)

G (5th note of C major scale)

C Minor Triad Chord Symbol:

C- or Cmin or Cmi or Cm

Question 4

What is the formula for any Augmented Triad?

Answer 4

1 3 #5 of any major scale

Example: C augmented triad is C E G#

C (1st note of C major scale)

E (3rd note of C major scale)

G# (sharp 5th note of C major scale)

C Augmented Triad Chord Symbol:

C+ or C+5 or Caug

Question 5

What is the formula for any Diminished Triad?

Answer 5

1 b3 b5 of any major scale

Example: C diminished triad is C Eb Gb

C (1st note of C major scale)

Eb (flat 3rd note of C major scale)

Gb (flat 5th note of C major scale)

C Diminished Triad Chord Symbol: C° or Cdim

Question 6

What is the formula for any sus chord (aka sus4)?

Answer 6

1 4 5 of any major scale

Example: C sus (suspended) is C F G

C (1st note of C major scale)

F (4th note of C major scale)

G (5th note of C major scale)

C Sus Chord Symbol: Csus or Csus4

Question 7

What is the formula for any sus2 chord?

Answer 7

1 2 5 of any major scale

Example: C sus2 is C D G

C (1st note of C major scale)

D (2nd note of C major scale)

G (5th note of C major scale)

C sus2 Chord Symbol: Csus2

Question 8

What is the formula for any Major Sixth Chord?

Answer 8

1 3 5 6 of any major scale

Example: C major sixth chord is C E G A

C (1st note of C major scale)

E (3rd note of C major scale)

G (5th note of C major scale)

A (6th note of C major scale)

C Major Sixth Chord Symbol: C6

Question 9

What is the formula for any Minor Sixth Chord?

Answer 9

1 b3 5 6 of any major scale

Example: C major sixth chord is C Eb G A

C (1st note of C major scale)

Eb (flat 3rd note of C major scale)

G (5th note of C major scale)

A (6th note of C major scale)

C Minor Sixth Chord Symbol: C-6

Question 10

What is the formula for any Power Chord?

Answer 10

1 5 of any major scale

Example: C power chord is C G

C (1st note of C major scale)

G (5th note of C major scale)

C Power Chord Symbol: C5

Rock On!