minor triads

The minor triad provides the the essential color of the minor tonality. At the root of the blues color, the minor triad is an essential component of all of the styles of American music. Here is it's sound in action. Example 3.

As the name minor triad implies, the all important interval of the minor third defines the sound of the three note minor chord or triad. Thinking from the root, we stack the interval of a minor third then a major third to create the minor triad. Here is a handy picture of the building process of the proper intervals above the root. Example 3a.

  Is this the flip of this? 

Thinking in the tonal center of C natural minor, the tonic or C minor triad is created by the 1st, b3rd and 5th scale degrees of the C minor scale. Here is a chart showing the pitches of the C minor scale and numerical scale degrees. Example 3b.

Here is a piano illustration of C, Eb, and G, (1, b3, 5). At the piano, a root position C minor triad is struck thus, click to hear the sound. Example 3c.

Cool with this? Can we create a minor triad on each of the pitches of the chromatic scale? Of course we can. Lets do it. Here is a chart spelling out the minor triad from each of the 12 pitches of the chromatic scale, organized by the cycle of fourths. Example 3d.

Here is the sound of the above chart of the 12 minor triads of equal temper. Example 3f.

Got these minor triads on your hardrive? Understanding the theory and executing the minor triad is potentially of great importance to the emerging player of American music. In all 12 keys, yes in all 12 keys. Curious about the minor tonality?

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