Triads

Definition

Triads are three-note chords built from a root, third, and fifth, forming the basic building blocks of harmony in tonal music. They can be major, minor, diminished, or augmented, depending on the intervals between the notes. Understanding triads is crucial for creating harmonic progressions and for effective voice leading, especially when avoiding common errors like parallel motion.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Triads can be categorized into four main types: major, minor, diminished, and augmented, each providing different emotional qualities to music.
2. The arrangement of notes in triads can greatly affect their function within a piece, with inversions creating variety in sound and texture.
3. In tonal music, triads form the basis for harmonic progressions and are fundamental in establishing key relationships.
4. Parallel motion between triads should be avoided to maintain independent voice leading and to prevent awkwardness in harmonic movement.
5. Triads can be extended into more complex chords by adding additional notes like sevenths or ninths, enriching harmonic possibilities.

Review Questions

• How do different types of triads contribute to the emotional expression in music?
  • Different types of triads—major, minor, diminished, and augmented—each evoke distinct emotions. Major triads typically sound bright and happy, while minor triads convey a more somber or reflective quality. Diminished triads can create tension or instability, whereas augmented triads often sound mysterious or unresolved. Understanding these emotional associations helps composers effectively use triads to express their intended mood and narrative within a piece.
• Discuss the importance of avoiding parallel motion in triad progressions and how this relates to effective voice leading.
  • Avoiding parallel motion in triad progressions is essential because it helps maintain the independence of each voice within a harmonic texture. When voices move in parallel, they can create a block-like sound that lacks individuality and can sound less sophisticated. Effective voice leading involves ensuring that each part moves smoothly to its next note while respecting the distinct roles of each voice. By avoiding parallel motion, composers can create more fluid and interesting harmonies.
• Evaluate the role of triads in diatonic harmony and how they interact with chord inversions to enhance musical texture.
  • Triads play a foundational role in diatonic harmony as they are built from scale degrees specific to a key. This structure allows composers to create rich harmonic progressions that feel cohesive within the context of a piece. When combined with chord inversions, which alter the bass note while maintaining the same triadic structure, composers can add depth and variation to their music. This interaction enriches musical texture by allowing different voicings to emerge, enhancing both harmonic interest and overall musicality.

Related terms

Chord Inversion: A rearrangement of the notes in a chord where the lowest note is not the root, resulting in different bass notes and voicings.

Diatonic Harmony: Harmony that is derived from the notes within a specific key, using triads that correspond to the scale degrees.

Voice Leading:

The practice of writing smooth melodic lines in conjunction with harmonies, ensuring that each individual part moves efficiently from one note to another.