An Intensive Journey to Demystifying the Fretboard - Part 3

If you haven’t read yet, make sure to check the previous segment of the series:
Part 2 - Understanding Double Stops

Triadic harmony is so profoundly embedded into the western culture that, even when played out of context, their sound is so powerful that our souls, minds and bodies still revert to their meanings.

Therefore, our next stop in the journey to the further demystification of the fretboard could not be anything but the Triads; regardless of how well you think you know them.

The Triad

A triad is a set of three notes that can be stacked vertically in thirds.

Triad Inversions

When any note other than the root is in the lowest voice, the triad appears to be in inversion. Inversions of triads have distinct qualities and attributes.

All Inversions

The first step is to learn the Triads and their Inversions in all positions across the different string-sets.

The Diagonal Guitar

After getting comfortable with these, the next step is to practice the Triads in a diagonal array - starting on the lowest note available which is not always the root. This approach provides the most effective way to have the whole fretboard at your disposal at any time.

Diagonal Diatonic Triads

Once you start feeling comfortable with the G major Triad, apply the same approach to all diatonic triads in the key of G major.

Practising Triads in Pairs

Triads are almost never found alone, they usually act in cooperation with other sonorities that precede and follow them. Much like all music anyway; we experience sound in time and we give meaning to it by appreciating how it unfolds.

Practising triads in pairs is a useful exercise to realise how harmonies connect as well as a way to force ourselves to practice more than one things at the same time.

For now, practice diatonic triads that their roots are: