HOSTS- Jeremy Burns, Matthew Scott Phillips
TYPE- Theory
DURATION- 37:00
BUMPER MUSIC- "Don't Diminish Me" (Area 47 Music)
ANNOUNCER- Mike Cunliffe
Triads are the building blocks of harmony. In this episode, we will introduce you to the 4 basic triads: major, minor, augmented and diminished. We will discuss the theory behind them, the moods they evoke and the
functions they serve.
INTERVAL- The distance between two notes, harmonically or melodically. An interval consists of two components: 1) NUMBER and 2) QUALITY.
TRIAD- A group of three notes: the root note, the note a 3rd above it and the note a 5th above it. This can also be viewed as a combination of two intervals, each that of a 3rd.
TERTIAN HARMONY- A harmony made of stacked 3rds
MAJOR TRIAD- ROOT + MAJOR 3rd + MINOR 3rd
MINOR TRIAD- ROOT + MINOR 3rd + MAJOR 3rd
DIMINISHED TRIAD- ROOT + MINOR 3rd+
MINOR 3rd
AUGMENTED TRIAD- ROOT + MAJOR 3rd +
MAJOR 3rd
MAJOR TRIAD
The ROOT (C), it's MAJOR 3rd (E), and its
PERFECT 5th (G)
AUGMENTED TRIAD
The ROOT (E), it's MAJOR 3rd (G#), and its
AUGMENTED 5th (B#)
COMMON TRIADS BASED ON THE NOTES
If you RAISE the 3rd of a MINOR TRIAD, it will become a MAJOR TRIAD.
Below, we see the D MINOR in the 1st measure become a D MAJOR in the following measure, because we sharpened the 3rd.
If you LOWER the 3rd of a MAJOR TRIAD, it will become a MINOR TRIAD.
Below, we see the G MAJOR in the 1st measure become a G MAJOR in the following measure, because we lowered the 3rd.
If you RAISE the 5th of a MAJOR TRIAD, it will become an AUGMENTED TRIAD.
Below, we see the F MAJOR in the 1st measure become an F AUGMENTED in the following measure, because we sharpened the 5th.
DIATONIC TRIADS
These triads are all made of the notes within the given scale and are based on the scale degrees. The capital Roman numerals represent MAJOR triads and the lower case Roman numerals represent MINOR triads.
-The only difference between MAJOR and MINOR is the 3rd. In both triads, the 5ths are PERFECT.
-Diminished chords have a feeling of tension while augmented chords have more of a "floaty" or disorienting feel.
MUSIC STUDENT 101