As I stated on the Basic Harmony page, there are four types or "qualities" of triads. Here we'll look at the major triads.

Major triads are derived from a major scale, as was illustrated in the above diagram. The note that makes a chord major or minor is the 3rd. In a major triad, the 3rd is found the distance of a major third (4 frets) up from the root. If you flat the 3rd - lower it by one half-step (1 fret) - the chord becomes minor.

The following chords are all major triads in all inversions and in both open and closed positions.

Have fun with these for now and look at the major triad study below. Click to continue to Minor Triads. It illustrates some common ways of moving around with the inversions.

Til next time.
JG