Guitar study notebook · English edition

Triads, inversions & a few good discoveries

A little harmony.
A lot to explore.

Start with three notes. Find them on the fretboard, change the note in the bass, and listen to the possibilities. These nine study pages are yours to work through at your own pace.

Take it one shape at a time.

root 3 / ♭3 / 2 / 4 5 / ♭5 / ♯5
01

Original p. 12

Triads

A chord is a group of at least three notes. Two notes form a dyad, which may be considered a fragment of a chord.

As our basic triad we will use C major. It is built from the C major scale by taking the root, major third, and fifth — moving through the scale in thirds.

C major scale — take every other note

the basic C triad

Start with these three notes.

C = C · E · G
EBGDAE53Rfret 8
C major · D/G/B string set
Rroot3third5fifth
Remove the third

The chord is no longer major or minor: its quality becomes open or suspended. The third is the tone that most clearly identifies major versus minor.

chord symbols and added tones

A simple symbol assumes root, third, and fifth. Every added or altered tone must be named in the symbol.

C
C6
C(add4)
C7
02

Original p. 13

Inversions

Inversions are different ways of ordering the notes of a chord. They create new sonorities inside the same harmony.

A triad has two inversions in addition to root position. The lowest note changes; the three pitch classes remain C, E, and G.

Same three notes. A different bass.

Root position

C · E · G
EBGDAE53Rfret 8
Root position

1st inversion

E · G · C
EBGDAER53fret 11
1st inversion

2nd inversion

G · C · E
EBGDAE3R5fret 3
2nd inversion

adjacent string groups

01E · B · G02B · G · D03G · D · A04D · A · E

Interactive triad

Hear the triad

Choose a voicing, then hear its notes together or follow them one at a time.

CR · 3 · 5

Low to high
C4 · E4 · G4
Bass note
C4 · root
Frets, low to high
5 · 5 · 3
Practice view

Play the chord to hear its colour, or choose Hear notes to follow each sounding note in both diagrams.

C · root position
EBGDAER35fret 3
C · root position

Use G, B and high E. The top line is high E; all six strings stay visible.

some variations on the C-major triad

C
R · 3 · 5
Cm
R · ♭3 · 5
Csus2
R · 2 · 5
Csus4
R · 4 · 5
C(♭5)
R · 3 · ♭5
C(♯5)
R · 3 · ♯5
Cdim
R · ♭3 · ♭5
03

Original p. 14

C triads on the fretboard

Every map shows all six strings and only positions that belong to a playable close-position voicing on an adjacent three-string group, matching the original chart from frets 2–21.

Major triads

R - 3 - 5

C major triadsComplete six-string guitar fretboard showing playable close-position voicings from fret 2 through fret 21.EBGDAEG — 5, E string, fret 3C — R, E string, fret 8E — 3, E string, fret 12G — 5, E string, fret 15C — R, E string, fret 20E — 3, B string, fret 5G — 5, B string, fret 8C — R, B string, fret 13E — 3, B string, fret 17G — 5, B string, fret 20C — R, G string, fret 5E — 3, G string, fret 9G — 5, G string, fret 12C — R, G string, fret 17E — 3, G string, fret 21E — 3, D string, fret 2G — 5, D string, fret 5C — R, D string, fret 10E — 3, D string, fret 14G — 5, D string, fret 17C — R, A string, fret 3E — 3, A string, fret 7G — 5, A string, fret 10C — R, A string, fret 15E — 3, A string, fret 19G — 5, E string, fret 3C — R, E string, fret 8E — 3, E string, fret 12G — 5, E string, fret 15C — R, E string, fret 20VXII

Minor triads

R - ♭3 - 5

C minor triadsComplete six-string guitar fretboard showing playable close-position voicings from fret 2 through fret 21.EBGDAEG — 5, E string, fret 3C — R, E string, fret 8E♭ — ♭3, E string, fret 11G — 5, E string, fret 15C — R, E string, fret 20E♭ — ♭3, B string, fret 4G — 5, B string, fret 8C — R, B string, fret 13E♭ — ♭3, B string, fret 16G — 5, B string, fret 20C — R, G string, fret 5E♭ — ♭3, G string, fret 8G — 5, G string, fret 12C — R, G string, fret 17E♭ — ♭3, G string, fret 20G — 5, D string, fret 5C — R, D string, fret 10E♭ — ♭3, D string, fret 13G — 5, D string, fret 17C — R, A string, fret 3E♭ — ♭3, A string, fret 6G — 5, A string, fret 10C — R, A string, fret 15E♭ — ♭3, A string, fret 18G — 5, E string, fret 3C — R, E string, fret 8E♭ — ♭3, E string, fret 11G — 5, E string, fret 15C — R, E string, fret 20VXII

Augmented triads

R - 3 - ♯5

C augmented triadsComplete six-string guitar fretboard showing playable close-position voicings from fret 2 through fret 21.EBGDAEA♭ — ♯5, E string, fret 4C — R, E string, fret 8E — 3, E string, fret 12A♭ — ♯5, E string, fret 16C — R, E string, fret 20E — 3, B string, fret 5A♭ — ♯5, B string, fret 9C — R, B string, fret 13E — 3, B string, fret 17A♭ — ♯5, B string, fret 21C — R, G string, fret 5E — 3, G string, fret 9A♭ — ♯5, G string, fret 13C — R, G string, fret 17E — 3, G string, fret 21E — 3, D string, fret 2A♭ — ♯5, D string, fret 6C — R, D string, fret 10E — 3, D string, fret 14A♭ — ♯5, D string, fret 18C — R, A string, fret 3E — 3, A string, fret 7A♭ — ♯5, A string, fret 11C — R, A string, fret 15E — 3, A string, fret 19A♭ — ♯5, E string, fret 4C — R, E string, fret 8E — 3, E string, fret 12A♭ — ♯5, E string, fret 16C — R, E string, fret 20VXII

♭5 triads

R - 3 - ♭5

C ♭5 triadsComplete six-string guitar fretboard showing playable close-position voicings from fret 2 through fret 21.EBGDAEF♯ — ♭5, E string, fret 2C — R, E string, fret 8E — 3, E string, fret 12F♯ — ♭5, E string, fret 14C — R, E string, fret 20E — 3, B string, fret 5F♯ — ♭5, B string, fret 7C — R, B string, fret 13E — 3, B string, fret 17F♯ — ♭5, B string, fret 19C — R, G string, fret 5E — 3, G string, fret 9F♯ — ♭5, G string, fret 11C — R, G string, fret 17E — 3, G string, fret 21E — 3, D string, fret 2F♯ — ♭5, D string, fret 4C — R, D string, fret 10E — 3, D string, fret 14F♯ — ♭5, D string, fret 16C — R, A string, fret 3E — 3, A string, fret 7F♯ — ♭5, A string, fret 9C — R, A string, fret 15E — 3, A string, fret 19F♯ — ♭5, E string, fret 2C — R, E string, fret 8E — 3, E string, fret 12F♯ — ♭5, E string, fret 14C — R, E string, fret 20VXII

Diminished triads

R - ♭3 - ♭5

C diminished triadsComplete six-string guitar fretboard showing playable close-position voicings from fret 2 through fret 21.EBGDAEF♯ — ♭5, E string, fret 2C — R, E string, fret 8E♭ — ♭3, E string, fret 11F♯ — ♭5, E string, fret 14C — R, E string, fret 20E♭ — ♭3, B string, fret 4F♯ — ♭5, B string, fret 7C — R, B string, fret 13E♭ — ♭3, B string, fret 16F♯ — ♭5, B string, fret 19C — R, G string, fret 5E♭ — ♭3, G string, fret 8F♯ — ♭5, G string, fret 11C — R, G string, fret 17E♭ — ♭3, G string, fret 20F♯ — ♭5, D string, fret 4C — R, D string, fret 10E♭ — ♭3, D string, fret 13F♯ — ♭5, D string, fret 16C — R, A string, fret 3E♭ — ♭3, A string, fret 6F♯ — ♭5, A string, fret 9C — R, A string, fret 15E♭ — ♭3, A string, fret 18F♯ — ♭5, E string, fret 2C — R, E string, fret 8E♭ — ♭3, E string, fret 11F♯ — ♭5, E string, fret 14C — R, E string, fret 20VXII

Sus2 triads

R - 2 - 5

C sus2 triadsComplete six-string guitar fretboard showing playable close-position voicings from fret 2 through fret 21.EBGDAEG — 5, E string, fret 3C — R, E string, fret 8D — 2, E string, fret 10G — 5, E string, fret 15C — R, E string, fret 20D — 2, B string, fret 3G — 5, B string, fret 8C — R, B string, fret 13D — 2, B string, fret 15G — 5, B string, fret 20C — R, G string, fret 5D — 2, G string, fret 7G — 5, G string, fret 12C — R, G string, fret 17D — 2, G string, fret 19G — 5, D string, fret 5C — R, D string, fret 10D — 2, D string, fret 12G — 5, D string, fret 17C — R, A string, fret 3D — 2, A string, fret 5G — 5, A string, fret 10C — R, A string, fret 15D — 2, A string, fret 17G — 5, E string, fret 3C — R, E string, fret 8D — 2, E string, fret 10G — 5, E string, fret 15C — R, E string, fret 20VXII

Sus4 triads

R - 4 - 5

C sus4 triadsComplete six-string guitar fretboard showing playable close-position voicings from fret 2 through fret 21.EBGDAEG — 5, E string, fret 3C — R, E string, fret 8F — 4, E string, fret 13G — 5, E string, fret 15F — 4, B string, fret 6G — 5, B string, fret 8C — R, B string, fret 13F — 4, B string, fret 18C — R, G string, fret 5F — 4, G string, fret 10G — 5, G string, fret 12C — R, G string, fret 17F — 4, D string, fret 3G — 5, D string, fret 5C — R, D string, fret 10F — 4, D string, fret 15G — 5, D string, fret 17C — R, A string, fret 3F — 4, A string, fret 8G — 5, A string, fret 10C — R, A string, fret 15F — 4, A string, fret 20G — 5, E string, fret 3C — R, E string, fret 8F — 4, E string, fret 13G — 5, E string, fret 15C — R, E string, fret 20VXII
04

Original worksheet

Variations on the close-position triad

Use the completed C-major row as the positional model. Alter only the chord degree shown at left; every diagram retains all six strings.

Chord / formula
Root
1st inv.
2nd inv.
Root
C major
R - 3 - 5
EBGDAER35
EBGDAE35R
EBGDAE5R3
EBGDAER35
C minor
R - ♭3 - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C sus*
R - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C sus2
R - 2 - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C sus4
R - 4 - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C ♭5
R - 3 - ♭5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C ♯5
R - 3 - ♯5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C dim
R - ♭3 - ♭5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
05

Original worksheet

Variations on the close-position triad — 2

Use the completed C-major row as the positional model. Alter only the chord degree shown at left; every diagram retains all six strings.

Chord / formula
1st inv.
2nd inv.
Root
1st inv.
C major
R - 3 - 5
EBGDAE35R
EBGDAE5R3
EBGDAER35
EBGDAE35R
C minor
R - ♭3 - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C sus*
R - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C sus2
R - 2 - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C sus4
R - 4 - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C ♭5
R - 3 - ♭5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C ♯5
R - 3 - ♯5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C dim
R - ♭3 - ♭5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
06

Original worksheet

Variations on the close-position triad — 3

Use the completed C-major row as the positional model. Alter only the chord degree shown at left; every diagram retains all six strings.

Chord / formula
2nd inv.
Root
1st inv.
2nd inv.
C major
R - 3 - 5
EBGDAE5R3
EBGDAER35
EBGDAE35R
EBGDAE5R3
C minor
R - ♭3 - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C sus*
R - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C sus2
R - 2 - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C sus4
R - 4 - 5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C ♭5
R - 3 - ♭5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C ♯5
R - 3 - ♯5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
C dim
R - ♭3 - ♭5
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
EBGDAE
07

Original altered-triad chart

Other altered triads

root 2 / 4 fifth

C sus2(♭5)

R - 2 - ♭5

Root position
EBGDAER2♭5fret 2
1st inversion
EBGDAE2♭5Rfret 7
2nd inversion
EBGDAE♭5R2fret 10

C sus2(♯5)

R - 2 - ♯5

Root position
EBGDAER2♯5fret 3
1st inversion
EBGDAE2♯5Rfret 7
2nd inversion
EBGDAE♯5R2fret 10

C sus(♭2)

R - ♭2 - 5

Root position
EBGDAER♭25fret 2
1st inversion
EBGDAE♭25Rfret 6
2nd inversion
EBGDAE5R♭2fret 9

C sus(♭2,♭5)

R - ♭2 - ♭5

Root position
EBGDAER♭2♭5fret 2
1st inversion
EBGDAE♭2♭5Rfret 6
2nd inversion
EBGDAE♭5R♭2fret 9

C sus(♭2,♯5)

R - ♭2 - ♯5

Root position
EBGDAER♭2♯5fret 2
1st inversion
EBGDAE♭2♯5Rfret 6
2nd inversion
EBGDAE♯5R♭2fret 9

C sus4(♭5)

R - 4 - ♭5

Root position
EBGDAER4♭5fret 2
1st inversion
EBGDAE4♭5Rfret 7
2nd inversion
EBGDAE♭5R4fret 11

C sus(♯4)

R - ♯4 - 5

Root position
EBGDAER♯45fret 3
1st inversion
EBGDAE♯45Rfret 8
2nd inversion
EBGDAE5R♯4fret 12

C sus(♯4,♯5)

R - ♯4 - ♯5

Root position
EBGDAER♯4♯5fret 4
1st inversion
EBGDAE♯4♯5Rfret 8
2nd inversion
EBGDAE♯5R♯4fret 13

C sus(♯4,♯5) contains C–F♯–G♯. It differs from Fm/C, which contains C–F–A♭.

08

Original p. 15

Sus2 and sus4 variations

C-major harmonic progression

C · Am · Dm · G

EBGDAEC1078109810108Am745755775Dm12910121010121210G523543553
Within each measure: sus2 → triad → sus4. Use the controls to isolate one stage of the motion.
2CAmDmG335
3CAmDmG8810
4CAmDmG558
09

Original p. 19

Chromatic clichés on triads

Major — variation on the fifth

Keep C and E; move G → G♯ → A.

EBGDAE35R
C
→
EBGDAE3♯5R
C(♯5)
→
EBGDAE36R
C6(no5)

Major — variation on the root

Keep E and G; move C → B → B♭ → A.

EBGDAE35R
C
→
EBGDAE357
Cmaj7*
→
EBGDAE35♭7
C7*
→
EBGDAE356
C6*

Minor — variation on the fifth

Keep C and E♭; move G → G♯ → A.

EBGDAE♭35R
Cm
→
EBGDAE♭3♯5R
Cm(♯5)
→
EBGDAE♭36R
Cm6(no5)

Minor — variation on the root

Keep E♭ and G; move C → B → B♭ → A.

EBGDAE♭35R
Cm
→
EBGDAE♭357
Cm(maj7)*
→
EBGDAE♭35♭7
Cm7*
→
EBGDAE♭356
Cm6*

* root omitted

Style and practice prompts

01

Brazilian feel

02

Film-score tempo

03

Angular, Stravinsky-like closed-position figures

04

Explore feel, modal colour, phrasing, and alternate voicings