Using Triads on `Ukulele

Using triads for improvising, creating solos, and melodies.

Published: 02 Jan 2008 Updated: 23 Apr 2015Visits: 55Code: UL120

INSTRUMENTS: Triads Main: Ukulele Others: Ukulele
Subjects: Chords • Intermediate • Improvisation • Advanced • Triads

All 2 sample page(s) are viewable on-line.

If you are a registered site member, have verified your email address, and have the correct permissions you can view ALL the pages of this PDF or Samples pages at a larger size using the LearningUkulele.com Online PDF Viewer .

This Download is NOT part of your LearningUkulele.com membership level.

Sign-up for Premium Site Access or Upgrade Your Plan your current access level to download this PDF or your can purchase a copy for download.

After purchasing a PDF , a download link will be sent to you within 24hrs. Working on getting it to be automated.

Each PDF file is a formatted, high resolution file that prints out great. You'll need a PDF Reader or application capable of viewing PDF files to view the PDF.

Download the PDF file for the latest, complete, and most up-to-date version. As well as additional information not presented on-line.

Members and Active Students need to sign-in to download this lesson's PDF for the complete lesson.

Using Triads on `Ukulele


Triads can be used harmonically, as chords and melodically, as single notes.

Triads are a great way to get started with creating solos and improvising.

Triad - In music or music theory, a triad is a three-note chord (or, more generally, any set of three notes, pitches, or tones). Because the term originated during the "common practice" period in Western European art music (approximately from 1600 to 1900), it is most commonly associated with tertian diatonic chords having a tonal function. When such a chord is voiced in thirds, its members, ascending from lowest pitched tone to highest, are called: the Root, the Third (whose interval is a major third or minor third above the root) and the Fifth (whose interval is a major or minor third above the third, and a diminished, perfect, or augmented fifth above the root).

These lessons explore both. Using triads as chords like any other chord and using triads as a basis for creating melodies and improvising.

Additional Content
Available for Premium Site Access Plans Only

Sorry, can't give it ALL away!

This content requires a Premium / Gold Access Plan or enrolled in the Study with Curt - On-line or Private Lesson Program.

To view additional content for this page you'll need to either Sign In or Register for or Upgrade to a Premium Site Access Plan.

Login or SignUp to View Content

Other Triads

From the Major and Minor triads you can derive the Diminished, Augmented, add and sus triads.

For Diminished triads you lower the fifth of a minor triad one half step or one fret.

For Augmented triads you raise the fifth of a major triad one half step or one fret.

For add triads, as the name implies, you need to add a note. Any note can be added but the most typical is an add 2 or add 9. For an add2 triad you raise the root of a major or minor triad a whole step or two frets. Or, optionally lower the third of a major triad two frets or the thrid of a minor triad one fret.

For sus triads, the sus means suspension. Traditionally the sus referred to suspending the third of a chord by raising the third of a major chord two frets sor the third of a minor chord one fret.

For a sus 2 chord, a more contemporary chord you raise the root of a major or minor triad two frets. Optionally you can lower the third of a major triad two frets or the third of a minor chord three frets.

This is a lot to remember for the add and sus chords. So with getting to the actually notes or spelling of chords and really knowing the notes of the fingerboard. You are closer to getting a handle on these more contemporary chords.

QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning

Major Arpeggio Fingerings from my book QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, C Tuning

I use a lot of these arpeggio fingerings in my solos and in these lessons examples. Learning triads, their arpeggios and their inversions can be a major breakthrough in ones playing, one any instrument.

Using Triads Melodically

Here is a sample recording I threw together quickly to demonstrate how triads can be used for creating a melody or solo.

The chord progression is a simple I IV I V in the key of G major. Chords are two measures each of G C G D using basic open position chords.

Example Using A Scale and Emphasizing the Notes of Triads

This solo was created using only the notes of the triads below.

Example Using Notes of Triads and One Non Chord Tone (*)

This solo was created using only the notes of the triads below and one additional note (shown as *).

Example Using Notes of Triads and One Non Chord Tone (*)

This solo was created using the NOTES of the G Major scale and emphasizing the notes of the chords (triads).

UKE-TRI1-GMAJOR.png

Sign-IN — it's FREE — to view, un-blur this lesson.

Download the PDF file for the latest, complete, and most up-to-date version. As well as additional information not presented on-line.

End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

Related Lessons

Related Lessons for Using Triads on `Ukulele.

UL42-TRI

Core `Ukulele Chords, Traditional and Contemporary Triads

Updated: 20 Dec 2022

A "Triad" is a three note chord. In traditional music theory, there are four triad chord types: major, minor, diminished, and augmented. Contemporary triads include sus and add.

Related Lesson Series

Related Lessons Series for Using Triads on `Ukulele.

Triads - Traditional and Contemporary Triads

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

A triad is a three note chord. In traditional chord theory there are four traditional triad chord types: major, minor, diminished and augmented. And four contemporary triad chord types: sus2, sus4, add2 and add9.

Related Songs

Related Songs for Using Triads on `Ukulele.

ANYSONG

Any Song Will Do

Updated: 07 Dec 2015

This is not really a song, but simply saying that for the purposes of a lot of the lessons and lesson series on this site ANY song will do for exploring the lesson's material and concepts presented in the lesson.

Related Books & Charts

Related Books for Using Triads on `Ukulele.

QSUAT-C

QuickStart Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele, Triads C Tuning

Updated: 10 Jan 2020

QuickStart Scale Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads is a concise, well organized book ideal for any ukulele player beginning to explore the ukulele's full potential as a musical instrument. Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele - Triads keeps a sharp focus on essential arpeggios and their fingerings. All material is covered in every key.

A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.

Books

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

Finally, learn the names of the notes of the fingerboard.

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics.

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition.

Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer

Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position is a lot easier than you might think.

Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele

An organized collection of daily practice and reference material for the contemporary ukulele player for developing the vocabulary and knowledge necessary for single note playing.

Checkout the Books for ALL available books.

Reference Charts

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G - G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G – G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Key Signatures — Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes

A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A) , A4

Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

Site Access Plans for LearningUkulele.com

Forever Access - With Forever Premium Access, you get ALL the benefits of a Premium Access Subscription such as Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources, related assets, and ALL books by Curt as FREE downloads. Pretty much everything on the site, and NEVER worry about a subscription or surprise payment again. And jump the queue for responding to any questions.

If you're anything like me (Curt) and getting Subscription overloaded with everything and everybody on-line wanting money from you once a month — I'm with you. For like-minded individuals, this forever plan is a pay once, and you're done.

The price for Unlimited Forever access is right around the cost of a few months of private lessons. I can guarantee there is more than enough material on-line to keep you busy for a long, long time. And, you get all of my books for FREE. That alone is more than the cost of this plan.

Premium Access - This premium gives you Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources and related assets. As well as ALL books by Curt Sheller as FREE downloads.

Basic Access - A limited selection of basic lessons — ( currently over 140 ) and 100+ songs for ukulele as well as basic general music reference material — Completely FREE — Simply Register/Signup. HOWEVER - I've been doing ukulele and LearningUkulele.com since 2003 and probably have given too much away already - as reflected in my income from the site in relationship to the time spent on the site. So help support this site and its continued development by signing up for one of the below Premium Access Plans or buy a few of my books. - Thanks, Curt

NOTE: Each higher access level includes ALL the benefits of the lower levels. Private Lessons include all the benefits of a Premium Access Plans as long as you remain a student on the schedule.

Just browsing over both books, they look fantastic! I'm a guitarist and uke player for over 25 years and was thinking about writing a ukulele book but you've already written what I think are the best, most comprehensive and thorough books I've ever seen for the instrument. I just might end up buying every book you've written and I'll be giving my highest recommendation for your books to my friends and students. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such great books!Peter Rhee

Aloha, Curt, All I can say is WOW! What you have accomplished is simply incredible! All the bestGlen Hirabayashi, The Aloha Boys

Folks, if you haven't stopped by Curt's site, do so right now! ..And get his books, they are fantastic. This guy knows his stuff and is able to pass it along too.Alan Johnson Proprietor, The 4th Peg

I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books — I have four of them and they are excellent.fatveg — Portland

Want to drop LearningUkulele.com & Learning Ukulele with Curt a nice comment . We always like to know how we are and you are doing. We'll post any comment, quotes throughout the site and you can help spread the word .

Thanks for visiting and checking out the site!

curtieAnim.gif rw.vg.gif

Original Curtie Animation from 1987 for my first web site on a Macintosh II, 37 years ago. Man, does time fly.

“Built for myself (Curt), and sharing with the `Ukulele community!”

LearningUkulele.com has one of the largest collections of lessons, songs, and TABS, Luthiers, ukulele builders, ukulele festival and club information, and, ukulele links on the web. Curt has been on the ®Internet since the early 1990's and This site just never stops growing!!!

Content is added and updated daily — so check back often. I really do need to get out more ;-)

Love LearningUkulele.com? • Show your support!
Support development via a monthly membership or a one-time forever membership!