Triads Majors First
Learning triads (major scale degrees 1,3,5) is the beginning of recognizing and playing chords when improvising. If one can play and memorize major triads, then one can comfortably improvise on most jazz songs just using those notes!
Download or Print Module 1 – PDF #2 Triads and 7th Chords
- Practice each of these major triads slowly at first with a metronome (quarter note = 92 or less).
- Start with example 1 from Module 1 – PDF#2 and work through some of the variations later in the PDF.
- After practicing 1,3,5 and some inversions spaced in half-steps (example 1), try changing the spacing between triads (example 10 & 11).
- Once comfortable with Major triads with some inversions spaced various ways, start to work through Minor, Diminished and Augmented. Be patient, most students take many months to work through this material.
- When ready, start the same work on 7th chords, repeating the same steps above
Audio Examples
1, 3, 5 half steps
5, 3, 1 half steps
1, 3, 5 up one & down the other
1, 3, 5 Phrased in Jazz 8ths
1, 3, 5 Spaced in Whole Steps
1,3,5 Spaced in Fourths
Download 1, 3, 5 half steps Here
Download 5, 3, 1 half steps Here
Download 1, 3, 5 up one & down the other Here
Download 1, 3, 5 Phrased in Jazz 8ths Here
Download 1, 3, 5 Spaced in Whole Steps Here
Download 1,3,5 Spaced in Fourths Here