How to write a triad?
NCVPS AP Music Theory
Identification
 Identification of the aspects of each type of seventh chord are
important when beginning to write a seventh chord. There
are five types of 7th chords (Major 7th chord, Major-minor 7th
chord, minor 7th chord, half-diminished 7th chord and
diminished 7th chord).
Four Qualities of Triads
 Identifying the quality of the triad is essential to identifying
7th chords. Let’s review the qualities of triads (Augmented,
Major, minor, and diminished). Note: Augmented Triads are
not used in 7th chord identification or creation.
Augmented
Major
minor
diminished
Major Triad
 A Major Triad has three parts. The Root, the 3rd and the 5th.
To identify the quality of the triad, you must identify the
interval between the Root and the 3rd, and the 3rd and the 5th.
A Major Triad has a Major 3rd between the Root and the 3rd
and a minor 3rd between the 3rd and the 5th.
In this triad, the “Bb” is the Root, the “D” is the 3rd, and the “F”
is the 5th.
Major Triad
The interval between the Root and 3rd (“Bb” to “D”) is a
Major 3rd and the interval between the 3rd and 5th (“D” to
“F”) is a minor 3rd. This interval structure makes the quality
of this triad, Major.
Minor Triad
 A minor triad has three parts. The Root, the 3rd and the 5th.
To identify the quality of the triad, you must identify the
interval between the Root and the 3rd, and the 3rd and the 5th.
A minor triad has a minor 3rd between the Root and the 3rd
and a Major 3rd between the 3rd and the 5th.
 In this triad, the “C” is the Root, the “Eb” is the 3rd, and the
“G” is the 5th.
Writing a Minor Triad
The interval between the Root and 3rd (“C” to “Eb”) is a
minor 3rd and the interval between the 3rd and 5th (“Eb” to
“G”) is a Major 3rd. This interval structure makes the quality
of this triad, minor.
Writing a Diminished Triad
The interval between the Root and 3rd (“G” to “Bb”) is a
minor 3rd and the interval between the 3rd and 5th (“Bb” to
“Db”) is a minor 3rd. This interval structure makes the
quality of this triad, diminished.
Writing a Diminished Triad
 A diminished triad requires a minor 3rd on the bottom and a
minor 3rd on top. Let’s solve this problem together:
 Write a diminished triad based on the following note “C” as
the Root.
Writing a diminished Triad
 Write a diminished triad based on the following note “C” as
the Root.
 First, what note is a minor 3rd above “C”? “Eb” is a minor 3rd
above “C”, so the “Eb” becomes the 3rd.
Given Root
Root with 3rd
Writing a diminished Triad
 Write a diminished triad based on the following note “C” as
the Root.
 First, what note is a minor 3rd above “C”? “Eb” is a minor 3rd
above “C”, so the “Eb” becomes the 3rd.
 Second, what note is a minor 3rd above “Eb”? “Gb” is a minor
3rd above “Eb”, so the “Gb” becomes the 5th.
Given Root
Root with 3rd
Root with 3rd and 5th
Writing a Major 7th Chord
 A Major 7th Chord requires a Major Triad on the bottom and
a Major 7th on top. Let’s solve this problem together:
 Write a Major 7th Chord based on the following note “C” as
the Root.
Writing a Major 7th Chord
 Write a Major 7th Chord based on the following note “C” as
the Root.
 First, write a Major triad with “C” as the Root. A Major 3rd
above “C” is “E” and a minor 3rd above “E” is “G”.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Writing a Major 7th Chord
 Write a Major 7th chord based on the following note “C” as
the Root.
 First, write a Major triad with “C” as the Root. A Major 3rd
above “C” is “E” and a minor 3rd above “E” is “G”.
 Second, what note is a Major 7th above “C”? Write “B” as the
Major 7th above “C”.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Root with Triad and 7th
Writing a Major-minor 7th Chord
 A Major-minor 7th Chord requires a Major Triad on the
bottom and a minor 7th on top. The Major-minor 7th chord
is traditionally known as a Dominant 7th Chord. Let’s solve
this problem together:
 Write a Major 7th Chord based on the following note “F” as
the Root.
Writing a Major-minor 7th Chord
 Write a Major-minor 7th Chord based on the following note
“F” as the Root.
 First, write a Major triad with “F” as the Root. The Major 3rd
above “F” is “A” and a minor 3rd above “A” is “C”.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Writing a Major-minor 7th Chord
 Write a Major-minor based on the following note “F” as the
Root.
 First, write a Major triad with “F” as the Root. The Major 3rd
above “F” is “A” and a minor 3rd above “A” is “C”.
 Second, what note is a minor 7th above “F”? Write “Eb” as the
minor 7th above “F”.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Root with Triad and 7th
Writing a minor 7th Chord
 A minor 7th Chord requires a minor triad on the bottom and
a minor 7th on top. Let’s solve this problem together:
 Write a minor 7th Chord based on the following note “G” as
the Root.
Writing a minor 7th Chord
 Write a minor 7th Chord based on the following note “G” as
the Root.
 First, write a minor triad with “G” as the Root. The minor
3rd above “G” is “Bb” and a Major 3rd above “Bb” is “D”.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Writing a minor 7th Chord
 Write a minor 7th chord based on the following note “G” as
the Root.
 First, write a minor triad with “G” as the Root. The minor
3rd above “G” is “Bb” and a Major 3rd above “Bb” is “D”.
 Second, what note is a minor 7th above “G”? Write “F” as the
minor 7th above “G”.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Root with Triad and 7th
Writing a half-diminished 7th Chord
 A half-diminished 7th Chord requires a diminished triad on
the bottom and a minor 7th on top. Let’s solve this problem
together:
 Write a half-diminished 7th Chord based on the following
note “D” as the Root.
Writing a half-diminished 7th Chord
 Write a half-diminished 7th Chord based on the following
note “D” as the Root.
 First, write a diminished triad with “D” as the Root. The
minor 3rd above “D” is “F” and a minor 3rd above “F” is “Ab”.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Writing a half-diminished 7th Chord
 Write a half-diminished 7th chord based on the following
note “D” as the Root.
 First, write a diminished triad with “D” as the Root. The
minor 3rd above “D” is “F” and a minor 3rd above “F” is “Ab”.
 Second, what note is a minor 7th above “D”? Write “C” as the
minor 7th above “D”.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Root with Triad and 7th
Writing a diminished 7th Chord
 A diminished 7th Chord requires a diminished triad on the
bottom and a diminished 7th on top. Let’s solve this problem
together:
 Write a diminished 7th Chord based on the following note
“G” as the Root.
Writing a diminished 7th Chord
 Write a diminished 7th Chord based on the following note
“G” as the Root.
 First, rite a diminished 7th Chord based on the following note
“G” as the Root.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Writing a diminished 7th Chord
 Write a diminished 7th chord based on the following note “G”
as the Root.
 First, rite a diminished 7th Chord based on the following note
“G” as the Root.
 Second, what note is a diminished 7th above “G”? Write “Fb”
as the diminished 7th above “G”.
Given Root
Root with Triad
Root with Triad and 7th