Triad scales
In this lesson we will take a major scale, play a triad on each note to build a triad scale. For the record, “triad scale” is not an official musicological term. It just seemed like a good way to describe this scale.
This is good because:
- It will improve your left and right hand technique.
- You will better train your ear to hear the sound of triads as well as harmonic movement.
- It will help you learn tunes more easily.
- This will help with improvisation.
- Hearing and understanding triads will help you to build chords.
First, just play a D major scale.
Then, play a D major triad. Alternate between the scale and the triad.
Awesome. Next, let’s go through each step of this scale.
D major: D0-2-A0
E minor: D1-3-A1
F# minor: D2-A0-2
G major: D3-A1-3
A major: A0-2-E0
B minor: A1-3-E1
C#dim: A2-E0-L2
D major: A3-E1-3
Practice each of these. Then practice assembling two or three triads in a row:
D0-2-A0-D1-3-A1-D2-A0-2
Once this feels natural, try the whole triad scale:
D0-2-A0 D1-3-A1 D2-A0-2 D3-A1-3 0-2-E0 A1-3-E1 A2-E0-L2 A3-E1-3
E3-1-A3 EL2-0-A2 E1-A3-1 E0-A2-0 3-1-D3 A2-0-D2 A1-D3-1 A0-D2-0
Each triad outlines a different chord. Being able to understand and play chords will help you to play and communicate with other musicians. Play the whole thing. If you struggle, try playing just a few steps in a continuous loop.
Let’s practice!
D major triad scale
Up: D0-2-0 D1-3-A1 D2-A0-2 D3-A1-3 0-2-E0 A1-3-E1 A2-E0-L2 A3-E1-3
Down: E3-1-A3 EL2-0-A2 E1-A3-1 E0-A2-0 3-1-D3 A2-0-D2 A1-D3-1 A0-D2-0
Connections:
G major triad scale
Up: G0-2-D0 G1-3-D1 G2-D0-2 G3-1-3 D0-2-A0 D1-3-A1 D2-A0-L2 D3-A1-3
Down: A3-1-D3 AL2-0-D2 A1-D3-1 A0-D2-0 D3-1-G3 D2-0-G2 D1-G3-1 D0-G2-0
Connections:
C major triad scale
Up: G3-D1-3 D0-L2-A0 D1-3-A1 DL2-A0-L2 D3-A1-3 A0-L2-E0 A1-3-EL1 AL2-E0-L2
Down: EL2-0-AL2 EL1-A3-1 E0-AL2-0 3-1-D3 AL2-0-DL2 A1-D3-1 A0-DL2-0 D3-1-G3
A major triad scale
If you have learned the raised third finger then you can play the A major triad scale starting on G1.
Up: G1-H3-D1 G2-D0-2 GH3-D1-H3 D0-2-A0 D1-H3-A1 D2-A0-2 DH3-A1-3 A0-2-E0
Down: E0-A2-0 A3-1-DH3 A2-0-D2 A1-DH1-1 A0-D2-0 H3-1-GH3 D2-0-G2 D1-GH3-1
Sheet music
Further practice
Add variations to this to make it fun:
- Rhythms
- Hoedown
- Triplets
- Swing doubles
- Slurs
- Slur three
- Slur two-separate one
- Separate one-slur three
- Patterns
- 1-2-1 pattern
- 1-2-3 pattern
Learn more about adding variation here: How To Make Scales Fun
Practice this here: Triad Scale Practice