Major Triads

Lessons ❭ Guitar Chords ❭ Triads ❭ Major Triad Forms

Moveable Major Triad Forms

A major triad is a group of notes from the major scale; the first (root) note, the third, and fifth notes spaced 3 intervals apart.

The diagrams below show the major triad forms used on different groups of strings. These triad forms are moveable up and down the guitar fretboard as long as you stay on the same group of strings.

Major Triad Formula = Root + 3rd + 5th

Root note shown with red outline

Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 6th String

6th String

Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 5th String

5th String

Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 4th String

4th String

Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 3rd String

3rd String

First Inversion Triads

A chord inversion rearranges the position of the notes used in the chord. The root note is the lowest sounding note of the chord when it is not inverted.

These first inversion triad forms are moveable up and down the fret board.

Major Triad First Inversion = 3rd + 5th + Root

Notice the new position of the root note in these inverted chords. The root is now the highest note (in sound), and the 3rd becomes the lowest note in the chord.

First Inversion Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 1st String

1st String

First Inversion Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 2nd String

2nd String

Second Inversion Triads

Major Triad Second Inversion = 5th + Root + 3rd

Second Inversion Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 5th String

5th String

Second Inversion Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 4th String

4th String

Second Inversion Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 3rd String

3rd String

Second Inversion Major Triad Form with the Root Note on the 2nd String

2nd String

Guitar Tabs for Major Triads

C Major Triads

e|-------------3-----8----------12-|
B|-------1--5--5-----8--8-------13-|
G|-0-----0--5--5-----9--9---9---12-|
D|-2--2--2--5-----5-----10--10-----|
A|-3--3-----------7---------10-----|
E|----3-----------8----------------|
Notes Used - C E G

D Major Triads

e|-2--------------5--------------10-|
B|-3--3--------7--7----------10--10-|
G|-2--2--2-----7--7------11--11--11-|
D|----4--4--4--7-----7---12--12-----|
A|-------5--5--------9---12---------|
E|----------5--------10-------------|
Notes Used - D F♯ A

E Major Triads

e|-------0-----------------7---------|
B|-0-----0--5--5--------9--9---------|
G|-1--1--1--4--4--4-----9--9------9--|
D|-2--2--------6--6--6--9-----9---9--|
A|----2-----------7--7--------11--11-|
E|-------------------7--------12-----|
Notes Used - E G♯ B

F Major Triads

e|----1-----5---------------8------|
B|----1--1--6--6--------10--10-----|
G|-2--2--2--5--5--5-----10--10-----|
D|-3-----3-----7--7--7--10------10-|
A|-3--------------8--8----------12-|
E|-------------------8----------13-|
Notes Used - F A C

G Major Triads

e|-------3-----------7---------10-|
B|----0--3--3--------8--8------12-|
G|----0--4--4--4-----7--7--7---12-|
D|-0--0-----5--5--5-----9--9------|
A|-2-----------5--5--------10-----|
E|-3--------------7---------------|
Notes Used - G B D

A Major Triads

e|----0-----5-----------9----------|
B|-2--2-----5--5--------10--10-----|
G|-2--2-----6--6--6-----9---9---9--|
D|-2-----2-----7--7--7------11--11-|
A|-------4--------7--7----------12-|
E|-------5-----------9-------------|
Notes Used - A C♯ E

B Major Triads

e|-2--------7-----------11---------|
B|-4--4-----7--7--------12--12-----|
G|-4--4-----8--8--8-----11--11--11-|
D|----4--4-----9--9--9------13--13-|
A|-------6--------9--9----------14-|
E|-------7-----------11------------|
Notes Used - B D♯ F♯