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Triads and Seventh Chords
Chapter 7
Basic Elements of Music
If you had to identify the three most basic
elements of music, they would probably
be:
1. Scales (Chapters 4 and 5)
2. Intervals (Chapter 6)
3. Chords (Chapter 7)
What is a chord?
A chord is a group of pitches that form a
single harmonic idea. When we write
chords, their pitches may sound all at
once, or they may sound in succession.
Key Concept - page 113
Triads
 Triads are three pitch
chords that are two thirds,
one above the other.
 Just like intervals, there are
different triad qualities.
 Triads in root position will
either be a line-line-line or
space-space-space.
Parts of a Triad
When triads are spelled in thirds, the interval
between the lowest pitch of the triad (called
the root) and the highest pitch (called the
fifth) is a fifth. The middle number of a triad
is called the third, because it is a third above
the root. Because the root is on the bottom,
this triad position is called root position.
Key Concept - page 114
Triads Above Major Scale Degrees
 One way to build triads is above the degrees of
the scale.
 If we are working in a specific key in classical
music, most triads will be based on a scale.
Triad Quality in Major Scales
 Triads built on each pitch have different
qualities (like interval quality, determines if the
triad is major, minor, diminished, or augmented)
 In a major scale, the qualities are as follows:
M, m, m, M, M, m, d (this is for ALL major scales)
Triad Quality in Minor Scales
The quality of the triad for the natural minor scale.
Note: We raise the leading tone in minor for triads 5 and 7.
IMPORTANT: In a minor key, raise the leading tone.
Spelling Triads Using Intervals
We can spell triads with the help of intervals, as Example 7.5a shows:
1. Write the root of the chord.
2. Write a fifth above the root. For a major or minor triad, write a P5
above the root. For a diminished triad, write a d5. For an
augmented triad, write an A5.
3. Write a third above the root. For a major or augmented triad, make
it a M3. For a minor or diminished triad, make it a m3.
Example 7.5b shows another way to spell triads by means of intervals.
You can write a major triad as a major third beneath a minor third; a
minor triad as a minor third beneath a major third; a diminished triad
as two minor thirds; and an augmented triad as two major thirds.
Key Concept - page 116
Building Major Triads Not Using Scales
 Major triads consists of
the following intervals
from the root:
Perfect 5th
Major 3rd
Root
 Or the stacked intervals
are:
Minor 3rd
Major 3rd
Root
Building Minor Triads Not Using Scales
 Major triads consists of the
following intervals from the
root:
Perfect 5th
Minor 3rd
Root
 Or the stacked intervals
are:
Major 3rd
Minor 3rd
Root
Major triad with a lowered third
(by one half step)
Practice
Build the following MAJOR triads:
Build the following MINOR triads:
THE NOTE GIVEN IS THE ROOT.
Spelling Diminished Triads
Diminished triads consist of the
following intervals from the
root:
Diminished 5th
Minor 3rd
Root
Or the stacked intervals are:
Minor 3rd
Minor 3rd
Root
Spelling Augmented Triads
Augmented triads consist of
the following intervals
from the root:
Augmented 5th
Major 3
Root
Or the stacked intervals are:
Major 3
Major 3
Root
Practice
Build the following DIMINISHED triads:
Build the following AUGMENTED triads:
THE NOTE GIVEN IS THE ROOT.
Another Way to Spell Triads
You may also spell triads using only the major key
signatures. First build a major triad (referring to
the key signature of the triad’s root), then:
-for a minor triad, lower the third a half step
-for a diminished triad, lower the third and fifth
each a half step
-for an augmented triad, raise the fifth a half step
Scale-Degree Triads in a Tonal Context
Notice how the major triads have upper case roman
numerals and triads have lower case roman numerals.
 The key signature is the
home base.
 We refer to each triad
built on the scale
degrees by the name of
the root.
 Keep in mind that all
triads are not equal in
terms of how they are
used. More about this
later.
Inversions of Triads
 Triads do not always
appear with the root as
the bottom pitch.
 An inversion is a triad or
chord that has something
other than the root as the
bottom (or bass) pitch.
 Any member of the triad
(root, third, or fifth) can
appear in the bass.
Triads in Inversions
Things to keep in mind when determining a triad's inversion.
-If the root of the triad is lowest, it is in root position.
-If the third of the triad is lowest, it is in first inversion.
-If the fifth of the triad is lowest, it is in second inversion.
Key Concept - page 120
Triads in Iversions
To identify the root in an inverted chord, look
for the interval of a fourth. The upper note
of the fourth is the root.
Key Concept - page 121
Root Position
 In a root position triad,
the root will always be
the bottom pitch (in the
bass).
The label 53 also stands for the intervals
above the bass or lowest pitch.
 Root position triads are
labeled: 53.
First Inversion Triads
 First inversion triads have
the third on the bottom (in
the bass).
 The root and fifth are placed
above.
The label 6(3) also stands for the
intervals above the bass or lowest pitch.
 In four part writing, we
double the root in this
inversion.
 First inversion triads are
labeled: 6(3)
Second Inversion Triads
 Second inversion triads
have the fifth on the
bottom (in the bass).
 The root and third are
placed above.
The label 64 also stands for the intervals
above the bass or lowest pitch.
 In four part writing, we
double the root or the fifth.
 Second inversion triads
are labeled: 64.
Inversions Practice
Write the following triad in first inversion:
Write the following triad in second inversion:
NOTE: THE PITCHES GIVEN ARE THE LOWEST PITCH OF THE TRIAD.
Seventh Chords
 Seventh chords add
another third on top of a
root position triad, forming a
seventh between the root
and top pitch.
 Seventh chords are named
by the quality of the triad
plus the quality of the
seventh from the root.
 Refer to you book pages:
125 - Example 7.12 and
127 - Example 7.14
Example of Seventh Chords
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Roman Numerals and Figures for
Seventh Chords
Think of this like a phone number: 765-4342
Root
3rd
1st
2nd
Inversion
Inversion Inversion
Seventh Inversions
Types of Seventh Chords
Types:
Major Seventh
Dominant Seventh
Minor Seventh
Half Diminished Seventh
Fully Diminished Seventh
Major Seventh Chords
MAJOR SEVENTH CHORDS
– (Sometimes called a majormajor chord.) Major seventh
chords are nothing more than a
major triad with a major
seventh. They are labeled
Intervals from the root:
X(Maj.)7.
Major Seventh
Simply Put:
Major triad with a major seventh
from the root.
Perfect Fifth
Major Third
Root
Intervals from the previous notes:
Major Third
Minor Third
Major Third
Root
Dominant Seventh Chords
DOMINANT SEVENTH
CHORDS – (Sometimes
called a major-minor
chord.) Dominant
sevenths are major triads
with a minor seventh.
They are label X7.
Intervals from the root:
Minor Seventh
Perfect Fifth
Major Third
Root
Simply Put:
Major triad with a minor
seventh above the root.
Intervals from the previous notes:
Minor Third
Minor Third
Major Third
Root
Minor Seventh Chords
MINOR SEVENTH CHORDS
– (Sometimes called a minorminor chord.) Minor seventh
chords are minor triads with a
minor seventh. They are
labeled x7.
Simply Put:
Minor triad with a minor
seventh above the root.
Intervals from the root:
Minor Seventh
Perfect Fifth
Minor Third
Root
Intervals from the previous notes:
Minor Third
Major Third
Minor Third
Root
Half Diminished Seventh Chords
HALF DIMINSHED
SEVENTH CHORDS –
Half diminished seventh
chords are diminished
triads with a minor
seventh. They are
labeled X7.
Simply Put:
Diminished triad with a
minor seventh above
the root.
Intervals from the root:
Minor Seventh
Diminished Fifth
Minor Third
Root
Intervals from the previous notes:
Major Third
Minor Third
Minor Third
Root
Fully Diminished Seventh Chords
FULLY DIMINISHED
SEVENTH CHORDS – Fully
diminished seventh chords are
diminished triads with a
diminished seventh. These
are labeled X7.
Intervals from the root:
Diminished Seventh
Simply Put:
Diminished chord with a
diminished seventh above the
root.
Diminished Fifth
Minor Third
Root
Intervals from the previous notes:
Minor Third
Minor Third
Minor Third
Root
Practice
Seventh Chords in Inversions
Seventh Chords in Inversion
Practice - Try It #6 - page 127
Treble Clef
E Dom.
4
3
A Dom.
4
2
B Dom. 43
Bass Clef
c min. 65
Ab Maj. 65
a min. 65
Practice
Extra Credit Homework - Try It # 7 - page 128
Reading Lead Sheets
 Has a written out melody, chord symbols, and
lyrics.
 Chord Examples: CMaj.7, C7, C-7,Cm7, C-7b5
 Does not go by key, but by what the chord says
Reading Lead Sheets
 Em/F is an E minor
triad with an F in the
bass. (F is a not a
chord member.)
 Em/B is an E minor
triad with a B in the
bass = 2nd inversion.
B is a triad member.