A triad in music is a type of chord made up of three notes. These notes consist of:
- The root – the starting note of the chord.
- The third – a note that is either a major or minor third above the root.
- The fifth – a note that is a perfect fifth above the root.
These three notes together form a basic harmony. Triads are the foundation of most chords in Western music and are classified based on the intervals between the notes. The four main types of triads are:
- Major triad (root, major third, perfect fifth) – gives a bright, happy sound.
- Minor triad (root, minor third, perfect fifth) – has a sad, mellow sound.
- Diminished triad (root, minor third, diminished fifth) – creates a tense, unstable feeling.
- Augmented triad (root, major third, augmented fifth) – has a dissonant, unresolved sound.
Triads are commonly used in chord progressions and form the basis of most Western music’s harmonic structure.
