Triads
As earlier suggested, the root written alone indicates a simple major triad. It consists of the root, the major third, and the perfect fifth above the root. Minor triads are the same as major triads, but with the third lowered by a half step. Augmented triads are the same as a major triad, but with an augmented fifth instead of a perfect fifth. Diminished triads are similar to minor triads, but with a diminished fifth instead of a perfect fifth (the minor third is retained).
The table below shows names, symbols and definition for the four kinds of triads (using C as root).
| Name | Symbols | Definitions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short | Long | Altered fifth |
Component intervals | Integers | Notes | ||
| Third | Fifth | ||||||
| Major triad | C CM CΔ |
Cmaj | major | perfect | {0, 4, 7} | C-E-G | |
| Minor triad | Cm C− |
Cmin | minor | perfect | {0, 3, 7} | C-E♭-G | |
| Augmented triad (major triad sharp five) |
C+ | Caug | CM♯5 CM+5 |
major | augmented | {0, 4, 8} | C-E-G♯ |
| Diminished triad (minor triad flat five) |
C° | Cdim | Cm♭5 Cm°5 |
minor | diminished | {0, 3, 6} | C-E♭-G♭ |
Read more about this topic: Chord Names And Symbols (popular Music)