BaDum Tss logo — an illustrated snare drumBDTplay first
HarmonyA–Z index
Harmony

Triad

The short version

A three-note chord: root, third, fifth.

A little more

The most common chord shape in all of Western music. Everything fancier is a triad with extras bolted on.

Hear it
Why you'd careIf you can build triads on each note of a scale, you can write a song's whole chord part.
Learn next
ChordThree or more notes played together.Root NoteThe note a chord is named after and built from.ThirdThe middle note of a chord — the one that decides major or minor.FifthThe strong, hollow-sounding interval seven semitones up.

88 words and counting in The Music Guide. Back to the guide