Reading a triad
A triad is three notes built in thirds: a root, the third above it and the fifth above that. C major is C, E and G. On the staff, notes a third apart sit on neighbouring lines or neighbouring spaces, so a triad in root position is easy to spot: three notes all on lines, or all in spaces, stacked like a snowman. The bottom note is the root.
Whether it’s major or minor depends on the third. From the root, a major third is four half steps (C to E) and a minor third is three (A to C). In a major key the chords on the first, fourth and fifth notes are major (in C: C, F and G) and those on the second, third and sixth are minor (D minor, E minor, A minor). The key signature does the rest: in G major, D major’s F♯ comes from the signature.
Inversions
An inversion is the same three notes with a different one at the bottom. Move the root up an octave and the third is now lowest: that’s first inversion (E, G, C). Move the third up as well and the fifth is lowest: second inversion (G, C, E). Pianists use inversions all the time, because they let the hand move from chord to chord by a step instead of a jump.
| Position | Lowest note | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | The root | Three lines or three spaces, evenly stacked |
| First inversion | The third | A third at the bottom, then a gap (a fourth) at the top |
| Second inversion | The fifth | A gap (a fourth) at the bottom, then a third at the top |
Finding the root of any inversion
Look for the gap. In an inversion, two of the notes are a fourth apart: one on a line and the other in a space, with a line and a space between them, rather than on neighbouring lines or spaces. The root is the upper note of that fourth. In E, G, C the gap is between G and C, so the root is C: C major, first inversion. In G, C, E the gap is between G and C again, now at the bottom, so it’s C major in second inversion.
Common mistakes
- Naming the chord after its lowest note. That only works in root position. E, G, C is not an E chord; find the fourth first.
- Reading the notes one by one. Spelling a chord from the bottom up works, but it’s slow. Learn the three shapes and read the chord as one picture, then name it from its root.
- Forgetting the key signature. In G or F major, a chord can carry a sharp or flat that isn’t drawn beside it: D major in G has F♯, and B♭ major in F has B♭.
A tip for speed
Practise the shapes before the names: in a round, first just decide “root position, first or second inversion?” from the gap, then name the root. Choosing from the four names makes you compare a chord with its other positions, which is exactly the skill. Playing it on the keys then ties the shape on the page to the shape of your hand. You can play the three notes together or one after another, in any order.
Single notes first? Start with the treble clef and bass clef tools, and the key signatures. To read chords as they come in pieces, try the sight-reading exercises.