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(Part 1 of 2) Triads are the answer! Locate and use triads when you improvise rhythm & lead – Guitar Lesson EP485

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn a system for easily being able to visualize and use triads when playing both rhythm and lead. Here’s a link to Part 2 on Minor Triads.

Free Guitar Lesson Video

Song Example

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Practice 1 (top 3 strings)

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Practice 2 (strings 2,3,4)

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Practice 3 (blending triads)

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  2. Michael Allen says

    I’m really looking forward to this. Years ago a friend showed me a little about triads and inversions on the first 3 strings. I worked them out in A through G and I still have my notes. I’m excited that all these years later I will have a complete explanation of triads and how to use them. Thanks Brian

    • Michael Allen says

      A follow up lesson using minor triads would be a great idea. I realize we’d only be making the third of the chord a flat but your tutorial with examples to practice would help to reinforce what we learn in this lesson. The problem when triads were briefly explained to me years ago was I worked them out up the neck on guitar grids but that was as far as I got with them. Your instruction would allow us to be better able to make music.

  4. Charles S says

    Wow! Gold nuggets all over the place. It’s like the history of Rock and Roll in one lesson. Yes, let’s keep this going with minor chords etc. I’m going to spend a lot of time on this until it’s second nature!

  6. deece says

    Brian,

    Thanks for helping this old dog learn some new tricks. Actually, your logic helps me re-frame things in a more understandable way, even though I’ve seen this presented in a thousand other ways.

    Please keep reminding me, too, of the connections between the triads, the chord shapes (CAGED), and the pentatonic scales. It helps a lot.

    Best,

    deece

  9. David S says

    Brian, I know some of these but I don’t have them hammered in my head. This is just what I need I’m going to practice these until I get them in my head.Just what I need to keep advancing.
    Keep up the good work.Thanks for all you do. You da best Dave.

  11. Geoff says

    Since I joined active melody over 2 years ago, I have loved all of your lessons and benefited from all of them. The lessons I benefited from the most were the CAGED lessons and one of the theory lessons that described the chord family for the major scale. This is another lesson that just beautifully elaborates on those, and I think I am going to work through this one as a good refresher on what I’ve already learned. There is always some new nugget I take out of these – like, I forgot a 6 chord would become a nine chord just by going 2 frets back.

    I just really like the practical, consistent approach you take to all of your lessons and, I can tell you, it has helped me to become a better guitarist.

    Thank you so much for all of this great work and the huge archive you have created on past lessons.

  14. peter w says

    My initial reaction to this lesson was been there done that. But as I watched it occurred to me me it’s always good to reinforce the rudiments . Keep them front of mind , lucid and available. Good to practice and review. I’ve been a subscriber for years now and it’s always good to constantly refresh. A lot of beauty in keeping it simple. A review of the minor triads not a bad idea either.
    And… a few weeks ago (EP480 ) you suggested you might do a lesson on practicing different scale patterns within the scales themselves to implement musically…. I hope you get around to it. I am curious as to your thoughts and suggestions on that as it’seems like a great way to be creative and musical… and motivate.
    My brother was a fiend of Les Paul’s and Les always used to say… don’t forget to practice your scales.!! Indeed.

  16. NB says

    Brian, this is such a great lesson. I have been getting some way to learning the triads on the 1-2-3 and 2-3-4 [and 3-4-5] strings but was not finding the information sticking. You have put it together in a ways that has really helped me. Thanks so much – love it! And YES PLEASE do similar for the minor chords!

  25. Robin S says

    Amazingly useful quality and quantity of material. Wonder if I shall have absorbed, much less mastered half of it by next week ! ButI sha.l stick to this one like glue !
    Thanks Brian.

  27. Jeff H says

    Another wonderful lesson, love the Triads, there is just so much scope with these chords. Would also love the Minor Triad version. Always love it when there is extra material with your lessons to help with our learning. Thanks for all your help Brian, much appreciated.

  30. André U says

    Hey Brian,
    this is one of your best lessons! Still overwelming but I can understand the potential in triads much better now! Will definitely dive into the topic and would appreciate the follow-up lesson as you suggested!
    Thanks!
    André

  34. charjo says

    Brian,
    This is, undoubtedly, the most important lesson you have ever created. This is the foundation every guitar player needs. After do, re, mi , understanding how a major chord is made and the open chord shapes, I think this is the next thing every beginner should learn and understand.
    John

  39. Francois M says

    Very well done Brian. You brought a fresh and real world practical approach to CAGED. That was clever to talk about the upper and lower triads. The discussion of 6ths, 7ths, and 9ths was short and to the point. And adding that bit at the end about interspersing the minor pentatonic takes it beyond CAGED. It’s practically a new way to play guitar. This will take some time to internalize and turn into my go to thought process whenever I pick up the guitar to do some noodling. I also like how you now use those labels at the bottom of the video to break the video into sections. By the way, I am also liking your recent microlessons.

  40. Raymond P says

    What a great lesson on triads. Your detailed explanations, diagrams and examples on how to use these triads is just fantastic. And if you can do this in minors someday that would be wonderful too.
    Thanks Brian,
    Ray P

  45. Peter B says

    Thank you for this Brian, I’m about to have Dupuytrens-contracture-surgery on the pinky in my left hand, (fretting hand). The surgeon tells me I may not be too happy with the outcome as the finger may be stiff.

    This would mean playing some of the extensions may prove difficult but at least I will be able to play the triad cords, with the pdf’s that you have kindly created for the practice routine hopefully I will get the use of my pinky back, fingers crossed.
    Thanks again for yet another gem of a lesson, Peter.

  54. Paris w says

    Been playing for 2 years now and I know that this lesson has come a at the perfect time. I had most of the triads memorized but having a way to practice them and draw lines between them will take my improvisations to the next level thanks. Looking forward to the minor class

  56. Nacho S says

    No podía faltar el español en los comentarios. Muchas gracias Brian por tu gran trabajo e inspiracion.
    Cada sabado es un nuevo regalo que todos agradecemos.
    Mis mejores deseos desde Bilbao.

  57. Harry B says

    I’m 86 years old ,Brian, and been playing guitars since I was 12. While I knew some of this before discovering your lessons a couple of years ago, I have learned more in the last two years than in all the preceding years. This is your best lesson yet in terms of what I need.

    As a retiree from a job in education that had nothing to do with guitars or music of any kind, I am strictly an amateur., but even at 86, I still work at trying to improve my playing. Your lessons have done more than anything to rekindle my interest and effort. Thanks a lot.

    Yes, I agree that a lesson on minor chord triads would be welcome.

  65. daniele f says

    Hi Brian
    I am so grateful to get your weekly lessons.
    You put so much work, explanations and new ideas, I am always amazed and so pleased.
    I look for your lesson every Friday since it doesn’t come to me until Tuesday but that’s ok .
    Thanks for keeping my brain and fingers going at 74 I need it and again a lot of praise to ActiveMelody you are helping so many people.
    Aloha 🎶
    Daniele.

  69. Mitchell L says

    Great lesson. Yes please, to a minor triad lesson.

    If you like the sound of the G6 to G7 shuffle, then check out MicroLesson: 056 – 1, 4, 5 Blues Chords in Multiple Positions on the neck. It’s a great little G6 to G7 workout.

  71. Peter R says

    Thanks Brian, a very good lesson to add to the ‘fundamentals’ excercises in my favorites. I wish somebody thought me that years ago. 😉 Would love to see something similar for the minor triads.

  72. Selina R says

    Loved this lesson. learned a lot. would love for you to do a lesson on the minor cords. you are the best teacher out there. I have learned more from you in the last 4 months than I have in years.

  74. Dan S says

    EXACTLY right. I Almost skipped this this but the I realized this is exactly the sort of stuff I play a lot. The composition is dead on and understanding those triad embellishments really helps.
    You teaching is without par. I have taken a little from here and there and they meld together.
    The way you provided subsets of the lesson is very beneficial to many of your students. Thee little snippets are the real foundation and must be understood FIRST !
    I do agree that a discussion just like this using a minor key would be awesome.

  76. Gary W says

    Great Lesson! Definitely another vote for a minor chord version of the lesson. I also think a version with Dominant 7th “triads” would be very useful. You touched on adding a 7th to these shapes but I’m sure there are some convenient comfortable shapes that you could show us.

    • Maurizio M says

      if you want a dominant 7th triad add the flat 7th of the chord scale and drop either the 5th or the root.
      that’s an exercise that’ll improve immensely your reading of the fretboard and the chords and arpeggios construction.

      example: take the triad on the D shape, first 3 strings (EBG). That’s the “triangle” you play when you strum a D major chord in first position (open strings).

      you are acually playing

      on the E string the 3rd degree of the D major scale
      on the B string the root (or 1st degree, aka the D note in this case)
      on the G string the 5th degree of the scale

      now move the note you are playing on the B string back 2 frets. That is you are playing Root minus 2 semitones == flat 7. There you go, your dominant 7 triad.
      try this for all the shapes that Brian showed us

  83. Gregory W says

    Wonderfully clear. Now I can move forward on this. LOVE how you blend these triads with the pentatonic scales and add 9ths etc. So useful. Yes…minor triads please as a follow up to this essential topic.
    Many thanks
    Gregory

  85. Mark W says

    This lesson has been a real breakthrough for me. I’ve been using triads for awhile following previous lessons but this has finally given me the knowledge to improvise with them. So much potential from just one lesson. A follow up with minor triads down the track would be amazing to add to this. For me this one is gold – thank you so much Brian.

  92. Rick C says

    Thank you Brian. From your lessons, I’m beginning to get CAGED.
    This lesson is the part I needed early on, also. Thank you VERY much.

    I remember your lesson on minors (Em/Am/Dm forms).
    Given the expressive sounds between major and minor, a lesson on minors would be challenging.

    Thank you.
    Rick C.

  94. toffen says

    Fantastic lesson Brian!
    I’m going through your “essential theory” course right now and am at triads, so this is very helpful.
    Please do follow this up with a video on minor triads when you get a chance.
    Love the little song example at the end to tie it all together!
    Thanks so much!

  95. Leslie P says

    Great stuff Brian… Simple and precise. The minor workout from your point of view would also be most welcome along with the pentatonic.. arpeggios… etc thrown in.
    Thanks once again!!!
    Leslie

  98. kitchman says

    Brian! More of these tool box lessons! This one was phreaking eye opening!

    I really liked incorporating these triad chords as part of my Major pentatonic jams.

    Ready to dig into the minor triads as well.. hint hint nudge nudge…

  103. Steven F says

    Just back from a 7 week trip to Portugal and during that time, didn’t touch a guitar. I’ve been with you for a couple of years now and you have talked about this material in other videos but for some reason this presentation is really sticking with me. It’s simple but challenging. It is a perfect lesson to come home to! Thanks for this!

  104. David C says

    This was great! The lightbulb was going on for me with this lesson. You tied the layers together from pentatonic scales to triads to chord shapes to CAGED. this freed me up from thinking only in the full chord shapes and then being able to visualizing the scales underneath. I am looking forward to getting into the minor triads next.

  105. Geoff says

    I decided to take a step back this month and focus a little more on theory. I understand the CAGED system and how to construct chords all over the neck. What I like about this lesson is it really shows how to construct patters out of the good old 1-4-5 chord progression and how to incorporate it into improvisation. There is no light-bulb moment as such but memorizing the patterns associated with this is going to be very helpful.

    Thanks for yet another great lesson Brian 🙂

  106. Pillarcat says

    Well, I certainly can’t disagree with all the foregoing accolades, but..

    Why do you and every other instructor never explain how or why they choose which CAGED shape to use where?

    For example, I can see in the first position that it’s convenient to move the E shape up to play the G, but then you move to the C shape to play the next G in the second position. Why did you choose the C shape? Then in the third position you choose the A shape. Why? Is the answer supposed to be self-evident, and I’m just stupid?

    Thanks.

  107. Lauri H says

    I consider myself as a beginner, first when I looked this lesson I felt overwhelmed. “Ah shit this is something that goes way over my head”. But as I looked the video and printed the material, all of a sudden it all made sense. Propably the biggest “light bulb moment” that I have had for a while.
    So easy to make your own little riffs and licks with this information. This also unlocks lots of previous things you have learned, or makes you to understand them where they are coming from
    Great lesson. Going to take on the minor triads next.
    Thank you Brian!

  110. Thomas H says

    Brian, I’ve been a member for about 6 months. Just discovered the fretboard part of the video tab breakdown. You need to show people on YouTube what they are getting. Just saying there are some tabs and other info is doing you a disservice.
    I also watched one of your beginning lessons. “You’ve come a long way baby!” I have really been enjoying the lessons. Part of my daily routine now. I have been a hobby guitarist for many two score and 10 moons. Your approach has re-light my guitar fire. Thanks

    Tommy in Huntington Beach, CA

  113. Olav S says

    This lesson is an absolute gem for me. You’ve taken my guitar playing to a level I never thought possible. I’ve been a member for maybe five years or so. I’ve gone from a sort of decent campfire pluck-and-strum kinda guy on my acoustic, but now, since I’ve retired, I can devote lots of time to your lessons. And the stuff you offer is perfect for me. I even bought an electric guitar so that I could properly follow your lessons on that instrument.

    Thanks so much.

  118. Daniel P says

    Over the last year I made a decision to actually learn more about music theory and techniques rather than to just see how many songs I could learn (over 100 now). My goal change seems to have coincided with your efforts to focus more on various elements as well, ie. Circle of 5ths, jazz chords, modes, CAGED system and triads, etc.. It has been FANTASTIC! You are an outstanding teacher – many have the knowledge but few are able to get the essentials across as well, and patiently, as you do. My only recommendation is that there be a little more emphasis on jazz theory, chords, etc. in order to possibly take my knowledge to the next level.

  119. Penelope c says

    Triads are opening up a whole new world to me .. going to jam sessions, I have watched other players and wondered how they were making their chords and I now realize they are using triads! Thank you!

  120. Gil B says

    Just being a member for a month now, and really making progress.
    Lessons like this (EP 485) make me realize,I have been losing much time with other videos…
    Catching up now. 🙂 thanks, Brian. Gil (Belgium).

  122. Brian says

    This song example exercise was a ton fun and great contextual learning tool. I just joined Active Melody after viewing the Major Triad video.

    If the rest of the context is half as good as this lesson, I clearly need to cancel my Truefire all access. Thanks!

  124. Dennis E says

    Well after 37 years of trying, watching, buying everything I could to “get it”, it FINALLY happened. It was as amazing as I imagined it would be. Brian it was the way you “explained” it that finally brought it all together for me and finally SEE the fretboard. Your a great teacher!!
    Dennis.

  129. Chris H says

    I know this is an older lesson, Brian, but I just stumbled onto it on YouTube, and it blew me away. You are the master of simplifying the fret board. I’ve seen stuff from heavy duty jazz dudes that claim to organize the fret board, but end up confusing me even more. This little lesson of yours is so clear and concise that it was masterful. Maybe it helped that kinda knew the basics going in, but the way you tied things together was Tre chic … and the little exercise you suggested was great. You da man!

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