Learning Objectives
- Differentiate between the qualities of major, minor, augmented, and diminished triads.
Triads II: Triad Qualities
Triad Quality
There are four types of triads: major, minor, diminished, and augmented. Of these, major and minor triads are the most common. You'll probably come across diminished triads less frequently, and augmented triads quite infrequently.
The quality of a triad is determined by the types of thirds that it contains. As shown in the chart below, each type of triad features a different combination of major and minor thirds. Be sure to listen to each of these types of triads to compare their unique sounds, or qualities. We will examine each of these triad qualities further below.
| Triad Quality | Major | Minor | Diminished | Augmented |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top | m3 | M3 | m3 | M3 |
| Bottom | M3 | m3 | m3 | M3 |
Quality(major,minor,
Diminished,Augmented)
minor triad speaker
c diminished triad speaker
c augmented triad speaker
Major Triads
The major triad has a major third on the bottom and a minor third on top, as illustrated in the example below. Note that there is a major third from G to B (click on "M3") and a minor third from B to D (click on "m3"). Thus, the triad G–B–D is a G major triad. The major triad has a bright, cheerful sound. Click on the speaker below to listen to its sound.
G major triad
G major triad
Note that the resulting interval from the root to the fifth (G to D) is a perfect fifth (click on "P5"). Thus, you could also say that a major triad consists of a perfect fifth plus a major third, as illustrated in the example below.
P5 + M3 = major triad
| P5 + M3 = major triad |
| Remember |
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Minor Triads
The minor triad has a minor third on the bottom and a major third on top, as illustrated in the example below. Note that there is a minor third from G to B♭ (click on "m3") and a major third from B♭ to D (click on "M3"). Thus, the triad G–B♭–D is a G minor triad. The minor triad has a somber, shady sound. Click on the speaker below to listen to its sound.
G minor triad
G minor triad
As with the major triad, the interval from the root to the fifth of a minor triad (G to D) is also a perfect fifth (click on "P5"). Thus, a minor triad consists of a perfect fifth plus a minor third, as illustrated in the example below.
P5 + m3 = minor triad
| P5 + m3 = minor triad |
Remember that the only difference betwen major and minor triads is the quality of the third. Both triads have perfect fifths, but major triads have a major third on the bottom and minor thirds have a minor third on the bottom.
| Remember |
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Diminished Triads
Diminished triads consist of two minor thirds stacked on top of each other, as illustrated in the example below. Note that there is a minor third from G to B♭ and another minor third from B♭ to D♭ (click on both of these). Thus, the triad G–B♭–D♭ is a G diminished triad. The diminished triad has a dark, unsettling quality. Click on the speaker below to listen to its unique sound.
G diminished triad
Unlike major and minor triads, the diminished triad does not have a perfect fifth. The interval from G to D♭ is a diminished fifth (also known as the tritone). That is why it is called a diminished triad. (Click on "d5" to hear this interval.) Remember that diminished triads have a diminished fifth.
| Remember |
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Augmented Triads
Augmented triads consist of two major thirds stacked on top of each other, as illustrated in the example below. Note that there is a major third from G to B and another major third from B to D# (click on both of these). Thus, the triad G–B–D# is a G augmented triad. The augmented triad has a dissonant, unstable quality. Click on the speaker below to listen to its unique sound.
G augmented triad
G augmented triad
Like the diminished triad, the augmented triad does not have a perfect fifth. The interval from G to D# is an augmented fifth. That is why it is called an augmented triad. (Click on "A5" to hear this interval.) Remember that augmented triads have an augmented fifth.
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Summary
The following interactive example shows how the four interval qualities are related to one another. Click "Show Me" to listen to and review the four triad qualities. Note in particular that as you switch from one type of triad to another in the order given below, only one of the pitches moves at a time, and it always moves by a half step. (You can see this most clearly by watching the keyboard.) This relationship between triads will become important in our next lesson, when we learn how to spell and identify triads.
Triads Quality