Triads are three note chords: They are formed by a Root (Tonic), a 3rd (Major or minor) and a 5th

(perfect,
diminished or augmented). Any chord may sound slightly different according to the position of the Root and
yet have the same structure. This is mostly true with triads. When the Root is played at the bottom the triad
is said to be in Root position. When the Root is played in the highest position after 3rd and 5th it is said to be
the 1st inversion and when it's played in between 5th and 3rd it's called 2nd inversion. Any of these forms
may fit better other preceding or following chords and sound more musical because of the better connection
of the relative moving chord voicings. But let's see first some Major triads and their inversions. D Major triads
and inversions:
Triad
1st inversion
2nd inversion
e|----------------------------------------2-#F-(3rd)------|
B|--------------------3--D--(Root)--------3--D-(Root)-----|
G|2--A--(5th)---------2--A--(5th)---------2--A-(5th)------|
D|4-#F--(3rd)---------4-#F--(3rd)-------------------------|
A|5--D--(Root)--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------|
e|5--(5th)------------10--(Root)---------14--(3rd)--------|
B|7--(3rd)------------10--(5th)----------15--(Root)-------|
G|7--(Root)-----------11--(3rd)----------14--(5th)--------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------|
A Major triads and inversions:
Triad
1st inversion
2nd inversion
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------2--(3rd)---------|
G|--------------------2--(Root)----------2--(Root)--------|
D|2--(5th)------------2--(5th)-----------2--(5th)---------|
A|4--(3rd)------------4--(3rd)----------------------------|
E|5--(Root)-----------------------------------------------|
e|--------------------5--(Root)----------9--(3rd)---------|
B|5--(5th)------------5--(5th)----------10--(Root)--------|
G|6--(3rd)------------6--(3rd)-----------9--(5th)---------|
D|7--(Root)-----------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------|
The following are the four triad forms: Major, minor, diminished and augmented. We'll now take a look at C
triads to have some clear visual examples. C Major
Triad
1st inversion
2nd inversion
e|------------------------------------0--E--(3rd)------|
B|------------------1--C--(Root)------1--C--(Root)-(5)-|
G|0--G--(5th)-------0--G--(5th)-------0--G--(5th)--(5)-|
D|2--E--(3rd)-------2--E--(3rd)--------------------(5)-|
A|3--C--(Root)-----------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
e|3--G--------------8--C-------------12--E-------------|
B|5--E--------------8--G-------------13--C-------------|
G|5--C--------------9--E-------------12--G-------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
C minor
Triad
1st inversion
2nd inversion
e|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------1--C--(Root)------4-bE--(b3rd)-----|
G|0--G--(5th)-------0--G--(5th)-------5--C--(Root)-----|
D|1-bE--(b3rd)------1-bE--(b3rd)------5--G--(5th)------|
A|3--C--(Root)-----------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|

e|3--G--------------8--C-------------11-bE-------------|
B|4-bE--------------8--G-------------13--C-------------|
G|5--C--------------8-bE-------------12--G-------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
Cdim
Triad
1st inversion
2nd inversion
e|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------4--bE--(b3rd)----|
G|------------------5---C--(Root)-----5---C--(Root)----|
D|4--bG--(b5th)-----4--bG--(b5th)-----4--bG--(b5th)----|
A|6--bE--(b3rd)-----6--bE--(b3rd)----------------------|
E|8---C--(Root)----------------------------------------|
e|2--bG-------------8---C-------------11--bE-----------|
B|4--bE-------------7--bG-------------13---C-----------|
G|5---C-------------8--bE-------------11--bG-----------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
Caug
Triad
1st inversion
2nd inversion
e|------------------------------------0--E--(3rd)------|
B|------------------1--C--(Root)------1--C--(Root)-----|
G|1-#G--(#5th)------1-#G--(#5th)------1-#G--(#5th)-----|
D|2--E--(3rd)-------2--E--(3rd)------------------------|
A|3--C--(Root)-----------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
e|4-#G--------------8--C--------------12--E------------|
B|5--E--------------9-#G--------------13--C------------|
G|5--C--------------9--E--------------13-#G------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
These following are 3 C Major diatonic triad scales in Root position:
C
Dm
Em
F
G
Am
Bdim
C
e|-----------------------------------0-E----1-F----3-G----|
B|--------------0-B----1-C----3-D----1-C----3-D----5-E----|
G|0-G----2-A----0-G----2-A----4-B----2-A----4-B----5-C----|
D|2-E----3-F----2-E----3-F----5-G-------------------------|
A|3-C----5-D----------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------|
C
Dm
Em
F
G
Am
Bdim
C
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------|
G|0------2------4------5------7------9-----10-----12------|
D|2------3------5------7------9-----10-----12-----14------|
A|3------5------7------8-----10-----12-----14-----15------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------|
C
Dm
Em
F
G
Am
Bdim
C
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------5------6------8------|
G|-------2------4------5------7------5------7------9------|
D|5------3------5------7------9------7------9-----10------|
A|7------5------7------8-----10---------------------------|
E|8-------------------------------------------------------|

Finding all the other ( D, E, F, G, A and B ) diatonic triad scales is very easy with the same preceeding chord
shapes. Now let's play some triads in this simple but good sounding chord sequence in which I have put Roots
in round brackets:
3/4 time
*
A
Dbm
e|--------- ---------(5)-------|--------- --------- 4--------|
B|----------5---------5--------|----------5---------5--------|
G|6---------6---------6--------(6)-------(6)-------(6)-------|
D(7)-------(7)-----------------|6---------6------------------|
A|7----------------------------|7----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
2nd inv. Root pos. 1st inv. 1st inv. 2nd inv. Root pos.
F#m
F
e|--------- ---------(2)-------|--------- ---------(1)-------|
B|----------2---------2--------|----------1---------1--------|
G|2---------2---------2--------|2---------2---------2--------|
D(4)-------(4)-----------------(3)-------(3)-----------------|
A|4----------------------------|3----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
2nd inv. Root pos. 1st inv. 2nd inv. Root pos. 1st inv.
A
E
e|--------- ---------(5)-------|--------- --------- 4--------|
B|----------5---------5--------|---------(5)-------(5)-------|
G|6---------6---------6--------|4---------4---------4--------|
D(7)-------(7)-----------------|6---------6------------------|
A|7----------------------------(7)---------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
2nd inv. Root pos. 1st inv. Root pos. 1st inv. 2nd inv.

1st time
A
E
e|--------- ---------(5)-------|--------- --------- 4--------|
B|----------5---------5--------|---------(5)-------(5)-------|
G|6---------6---------6--------|4---------4---------4--------|
D(7)-------(7)-----------------|6---------6------------------|
A|7----------------------------(7)---------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
2nd inv. Root pos. 1st inv. Root pos. 1st inv. 2nd inv.
Repeat *
2nd time
A
e(5)------- --------- ---------|--------- --------- ---------|
B|5---------5------------------|-----------------------------|
G|6---------6---------6--------(2)---------------------------|
D|---------(7)-------(7)-------|2----------------------------|
A|--------------------7--------|4----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
1st inv. Root pos. 2nd inv. 1st inv.

Try the preceding technique with some chord lines that you like or some of you own. Now we'll see some
more 3 note "C" chords. Mind that these are not triads. They are derived from 4 note chords omitting their
Root or 5th. I think knowing them at east in the keys you like best (if not all the keys) may be very useful.
Cmaj7
C7
C6
Cm7
Cm6
e|------------------------------------------------3(5)----| No
B|5(3)--------5(3)--------5(3)--------4(b3)-------4(b3)-8-| Root
G|4(M7)--9----3(b7)--9----2(6)---9----3(b7)--8----2(6)--8-|
D|5(5)---9----5(5)---8----5(5)---7----5(5)---8----------7-|
A|------10----------10----------10----------10------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------|

Cmaj7
C7
C6
Cm7
Cm6
e|7(7)--------6(b7)-------5(6)--------6(b7)-------5(6)----| No
B|5(3)--------5(3)--------5(3)--------4(b3)-------4(b3)---| 5th
G|5(R)--9-----5(R)--9-----5(R)--------5(R)--------5(R)----|
D|------9-----------8-----------7-----------8-----------7-|
A|------------------------------7-----------6-----------6-|
E|------8-----------8-----------8-----------8-----------8-|
Cmaj7
C7
Cm7
C
Cm6
e|-----12-------------------------------------------------|
B|5(3)-12-----------------4(b3)-------8(5)----------------|
G|4(b7)--------3(b7)------3(b7)8------5(R)-12-----2(6)----|
D|-----10------2(3)-8----------8-----------10-----1(b3)7--|
A|3(R)---------3(R)-7-----3(R)--------7(3)--------3(R)-6--|
E|------------------8----------8-----------12----------8--|
It is also very easy finding these chords in any of the other tonalities (D, E, F, G, A and B) with the same
chord structures. But please remember that these aren't triads any more.
Emaj7
E7
Em7
E
Em6
e|-----------------------------------------7--------------|
B|9-----------------------8----------12----5(R)--------2--|
G|8----13------7----------7----12-----9(R)--------6----0--|
D|-----13------6----12---------12----------6------5----2(R)
A|7(R)---------7(R)-11----7(R)-------11-----------7(R)----|
E|-----12(R)--------12(R)------12(R)----------------------|
Gmaj7
G7
Gm7
G
Gm6
e|-----------------------------------------10-------------|
B|12----------------------11----------15----8-----------5-|
G|11----4------10---------10----3-----12-----------9----3-|
D|------4-------9---15----------3-----------9------8----5-|
A|10-----------10---14----10----------14----------10------|
E|------3-----------15----------3-------------------------|
Amaj7
A7
Am7
A
Am6
e|-----------------------------------------12-------------|
B|2-----------------------1-----------5----10-----------7-|
G|1----6-------12---------0-----5-----2-----------11----5-|
D|-----6-------11----5----------5----------11-----10----7-|
A|0------------12----4----0-----------4-----------12------|
E|-----5-------------5----------5-------------------------|
Now we're going to play some 3 note chord lines to give the thing a little more movement. Sure you can play
them pretty fast in no time at all.
4/4 time
(.
Amaj7 Bm
Dbm
F#7
Bm
E7
Amaj7 A6
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
G|6--6---7--7--|9--9---9--9--|7--7---7--7--|6--6---6-----|
D|6--6---7--7--|9--9---8--8--|7--7---6--6--|6--6---4-----|
A|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E|5--5---7--7--|9--9---9--9--|7--7---7--7--|5--5---5-----|
(.
G7
Am
A7b9
G
Cmaj7 Bm7
Am7
G7
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
B|-------------|-------------|5--5---3--3--|1--1---------|
G|4--4---5--5--|6--6---7--7--|4--4---2--2--|0--0---4-----|
D|3--3---5--5--|5--5---5--5--|-------------|-------3-----|
A|-------------|-------------|3--3---2--2--|0--0---------|
E|3--3---5--5--|6--6---7--7--|-------------|-------3-----|
Em7
C
Dm7
Dm6
Dbm7
Dbm6
Cm7
Cm6
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
G|12-12--12-12-|10-10--10-10-|9--9---9--9--|8--8---8--8--|
D|12-12--10-10-|10-10---9--9-|9--9---8--8--|8--8---7--7--|
A|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E|12-12--12-12-|10-10--10-10-|9--9---9--9--|8--8---8--8--|

(.
Dm7
G
Am7
Am6
Abm7
E
Gm7
C7
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
G|7--7---7--7--|5--5---5--5--|4--4---4--4--|3--3---3--3--|
D|7--7---5--5--|5--5---4--4--|4--4---2--2--|3--3---2--2--|
A|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------3--3--|
E|7--7---7--7--|5--5---5--5--|4--4---4--4--|3--3---------|
*
Gmaj7 Abm6
Am7
Bm6
Bm7
Cm6
Cmaj7 Dbm6
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
G|4--4---4--4--|5--5---6--6--|7--7---8--8--|9--9---9--9--|
D|4--4---3--3--|5--5---5--5--|7--7---7--7--|9--9---8--8--|
A|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E|3--3---4--4--|5--5---6--6--|7--7---8--8--|8--8---9--9--|
(.
Bm7
E7
Am7
D7
Gmaj7 Abm6
Am7
D7 Ab7
e|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
B|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
G|7--7---7--7--|5--5---5--5--|4--4---4--4--|5--5---5--5--|
D|7--7---6--6--|5--5---4--4--|4--4---3--3--|5--5---4--4--|
A|-------7--7--|-------5--5--|-------------|-------5-----|
E|7--7---------|5--5---------|3--3---4--4--|5--5------4--|
Repeat *