Triad arpeggios - Guitar diagrams What is a Triad? ‘The most basic arpegigio (and chords) forms are called triads. They consist of three notes from a scale: the root note (R), te third note (major or minor), and the fifth (perfect, diminished or augmented). ‘The four main triad arpeggio types are minor (1, 63, 5), major (1, 3, 5), diminished (1, 63, 65) and augmented (1, 3, #5) respectively relevant to minor, major, augmented and diminished chords. They are three-note chords where the notes are played one by one, It's very important to know these basic triads, they are the foundation forall chords Keep the following in mind, As itis explained inthe chart below: + A major triad is built with a root, a major tind and a perfect fifth + A minor triad is built with a root, a minor third and a perfect fifth, + An augmented tiad is built with'a root, a major thd and an augmented fft +A diminished triad is built with a root, a minor thd and a diminished fh ajo Wiad I fino iad wugmented Wiad [Diminished rad Basic Shapes ‘You will ind below 20 triad arpeggio shapes classified in four groups : minor, major, diminished and augmented, Its important to locate the root note (R), its the note that gives the name of the arpeggio,Major Triad Arpeggios Jazz-gutr-tes.com Minor Triad Arpeggios Jone gutar-cks.com‘Augmented Triad Arpeggios Jazz-gutar-teks.com Perri Diminished Triad Arpeggios Jone gutarscks.com ‘Triad Arpeggios in Diatonic Major Scale Lets take a look at the harmonized major scale (in the key of C) played in triad arpeggios. You surely Know when harmonizing a major scale in thirds (you can also harmonize a seale in fourths) we obtain seven triad chords grouped into three different types (major, minor and diminished),It is important to memorize the order of the triads = major, minor, minor, major, major, minor and diminished. Please note that there are no augmented arpeggios in the diatonic major scale, You will find them in the melodie minor and harmonic minor scales Harmonized C Major Scale in Thirds By stacking thirds on each note of the major scale, we obtain seven chords. A third is the second note from the note you are on so for C the third is E, for D it is F, For E itis G. In the key of C we get aC ‘major chord (C,E,G), a D minor chord (D, F, A), Em (E, G, B), F major (F, A, C), G major (G, B, D), A ‘minor (A, C, E,) and then B diminished (B, D, F). Try to find these seven chords in twelve keys and play them on the guitar, o c Dm Em F G Am Baim Major Scale in Triad Arpeggios Here is the same C major scale played in triad arpeggio (one octave). As previously discussed in this lesson, triad arpeggios are made up of the same notes as triad chords. Now try to play triad arpeggios in twelve keys on the guitar. Majer eae ie Da Ea F a Aw Bain fazz-guitar-ticks.com a I Ti How to Practice Triad Arpeggios?‘After having identified triad arpeggios on the guitar neck and played them in twelve Keys, here are some exercises and ideas with tabs to develop them. Four Directions - Ascending and Descending Triads ‘The "four direction” concept isto play ascending and descending triads and mixing these two directions together. The first direction isto play triads up &e up (ascending movernent) ‘The second direction consists in playing triads down and down. The two other directions are a mix ofthe up & up and down & down movements giving up & down and of course down aad up. © Da Em F o Aw Bai F 6 Aa Baic Da En F 6 An Bam ‘Triad Arpeggio Sequences What are triad arpeggio sequences? The principle is to mix the notes of the triads whatever they are ‘minor, major, diminished or augmented, Let's take, for example, a major triad. This triad is built with a oot (I), major third (3) and a fifth (3). Beginners have a tendency to play these notes in the order, ftom the lowest to highest, in other words, the root, then the third and finally the fifth, This gives with the C major triad, C, E and A. However, it's {important to work on these triads by mixing the notes, here are six different sequences 1.3.5 (the basis)Here is how a 1-5-3 wad arpeggio sequence in C major look like on the guitar. With major chords play the root (1), the fifth (5) then the major third Applying the same sequence to minor chords gives root (1), the fifth (5) and the minor thtd (03). With the diminished chord you have to play the root, the diminished fifth and the minor tied. © De En F q An Bam ‘Try to apply the six previous sequences to the four triad axpeggio types (major, minor, diminished and augmented) following the diatonie major scale. The triads from the harmonic minor scale and the melodie ‘minor scale wll be discussed later in another topic.