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Improvising Using Major Triads Plus One Note

Category: Improvisation Instrument: Ukulele Subjects(s): Intermediate • Improvisation • Advanced • Triads • Arpeggios • Major

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Improvising Using Major Triads Plus One Note

With chord tones, the notes of a chord playing a predominant role in writing melodies and in improvised melodies. The triad plus one additional note is a great melodic device for creating melodies - either written or improvised.

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A triad contains three notes. A triad is the foundation of our western harmony, the chords, and chord progressions. A triad is at the heart of our more contemporary 4-part, 5-part, and beyond chords. A triad IS the chord tones / arpeggio of a chord and main component of improvisation – outlining a chord.

For a Major triad, these notes are the first, third, and fifth (1 3 5) of it's corresponding major scale with the same root.

Major Triad

For C major triad/chord, the notes are C E G. Our added note can be any diatonic note( part of the C major scale ) or chromatic note ( not part of the C Major scale ).

One of the first notes to add that sounds great with a major triad is the second of the scale. In the case of C major, that's D for C D E G. This gives us the 1 2 3 5 of a major scale and will works over major, maj7, 6 and 7 chords.

NOTE: This Major Triad, Plus One, is the same first four notes of the Major Pentatonic scale based on the chord's root.

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Improvising Using Major Triads Plus One Note…

C Major Plus One

There are 24 possible ways to play the four notes: C D E G.

C D E G   D E G C   E G C D   G C E D
C D G E   D E C G   E G D C   G C D E
C E G D   D G C E   E C G D   G E C D
C E D G   D G E C   E C D G   G E D C
C G D E   D C E G   E D G C   G D C E
C G E D   D G C E   E D C G   G D E C

1 2 3 5

1 2 3 5   2 3 5 1   3 5 1 2   5 1 3 2
1 2 5 3   2 3 1 5   3 5 2 1   5 1 2 3
1 3 5 2   2 5 1 3   3 1 5 2   5 3 1 2
1 3 2 5   2 5 3 1   3 1 2 5   5 3 2 1
1 5 2 3   2 1 3 5   3 2 5 1   5 2 1 3
1 5 3 2   2 5 1 3   3 2 1 5   5 2 3 1

Every Finger, Every String — Explore these starting on any finger any string.

Using the fingering principles from my book The Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering allows you to explore scales, arpeggios, intervals and sequences starting on every finger-every string, creating multiple pathways through any single note passage.

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!

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A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.
These are books & reference charts that apply to a majority of all lessons on LearningUkulele.com / Learning Ukulele with Curt.
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Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

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

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