Memorizing all 24 Major & Minor Triads
The Shortcut!
Rather then memorizing the way each shape looks (there are a lot!) You should memorize the structure/intervals because the structure is all the same. I’m not talking about where the white or black notes are. We need to count up the number of half steps and whole steps between each note.
How to find the structure of the Major chords (5 and 4):
- Start with C and count up 5 notes to E.
- Then count up 4 notes to G.
- NOTE: Count both the black and the white notes.
- Use a counting system that works for you to learn the distance between the C, E and G. That distance (5 and 4) is going to be the same for any major chord.
How to find the structure of the Minor chords (4 and 5):
- Start with C and count up 4 notes to Eb (flat).
- Then count up 5 notes to G.
- NOTE: The only difference between C major and C minor is that your middle should have moved down a half step.
