Thanks for the tips. I can figure out the notes, but I can’t recall them quickly yet. Your suggestion will help. Thanks again!
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This is such a useful lesson, thanks a lot! I have one question, are these the only shapes for major triads at highest three strings or are there any other that we’re gonna be learning? I guess these should be all because there are 3 positions that root can be but just asking to make sure.
I also noticed that I have to memorize the notes better and that I am still lacking some knowledge on that, will add to my practice routine. Also would be useful to learn about ways to use triads, for example triads vs old bar chords or how to utilize them in soloing.
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Hey Yigit,
There are 3 major triad shapes on strings 1-2-3. Same for all the other stringsets.
So that 12 shapes in total.
You will find the shapes across stringsets are pretty similar and follow a distinct pattern. Same with minor triads. Diminished and augmented triads you can derive from these.
Learning these triads will assist greatly with fretboard knowledge. They are little gems, extremely useful in all sorts of rhythm and lead playing. You’ll find them everywhere in music, in iconic songs, solos etc.
Once you learn a few, start playing them in a simple progression. Best way to start internalising them. Make up little melodies with them, improvise etc. Start looking for them in songs etc, and you’ll see them everywhere. The possibilities are endless. Essential learning and one of the most useful things on a guitar I reckon.
Re barre chords vs triads. You find the triads shapes right inside those barre chords. Try a few out and see what you can find. Its all connected.
Cheers, Shane
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Thanks a lot for your detailed response Shane! Many of my favorite guitar players (John Mayer, Frusciante, Hendrix) use triads heavily so it was something I was aspiring to learn. I will definitely make sense of those songs/solos and analyze them after I got the hang of this.
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Mmm yeah, but in the video I kinda thought there were some backing tracks especially for this exercise. He mentions, for example, Walking On Sunshine.
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Personally I don’t think a song is an effective backing track for learning triad grips. I’m flat-out trying to work out what shape to play on a given set of 3 strings to leave any brain power for working out what chord is being played in the song.
I like to practice triads over standard four-chord progressions in various keys. Youtube is full of such backing tracks. The best ones display the chord being played on the screen. You only have four chords to think about and they repeat. Look for titles like “slow backing track in C major” for example.
I won’t post links because I’m not sure if it contravenes the Community rules.
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Yep, the BT’s are the way to go. Two and three chord tracks are also very beneficial, as are drone tracks.
Cheers, Shane
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People asked for it, I have done it.
Backing track for Walking On Sunshine created and available here:
NOTE
1]
This is not in the original key of Bb but in the key of G so the chords fit the lesson: G, C and D.
2]
It is fast at 100bpm - but still slower than the original.
| G C | D C | repeated for intro, verses, 2nd part of chorus and outro
Important - the chords do not change on the count of 3 but are pushed and change on the a before 3 (counting 16ths). Look for the 1 and the a in this count shown in bold.
| 1 _ & _ 2 _ _ a _ e _ a 4 _ & _ | 1 _ & _ 2 _ _ a _ e _ a 4 _ _ _ |
| C | D | full bars of each repeated for 1st part of chorus
Because it is quick I have another - much slower - backing track here:
2 bars of G
2 bars of C
2 bars of D
2 bars of C
Repeat
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Great thanks for these. Is the idea that we use thd tracks just to help us get used to finding the right triads, in the various positions?
I’m guessing we’re not trying to do anything fancy (I’m not capable of ‘fancy’ yet 
)
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Oh thanks Richard. That should be very helpful. I kinda feel I’ve got it, but I’d rather totally nail it before moving on, so your help is mucho appreciado, as we say in Aus
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Like you I was finding the course progressing along, but as a beginner I am still trying to learn the notes on the fretboard. I am using the note trainer app and it is helping but it doesn’t come easily.
I am worried that this will stall my progress as I feel I shouldn’t move on until i can recall it easily.
Did anyone else struggle with this as a beginner?
Did you move on and keep revisiting the triads in practice or should should I wait to advance until I have it nailed?
Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Wayne.
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Just do a little each day (or a lot if you feel like it) and keep learning other stuff.
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Thank you.
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Hey Wayne,
Yep, it takes a while mate to get somewhat familiar with the keyboard. The key is daily focused exposure to it, through different exercises/drills.
Triads in particular are actually a great way of learning the notes on the fretboard. They put it in context. Takes a while though.
Cheers Shane
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Thanks Shane,
I was beginning to think I was too slow picking it all up.
This seems the key element to me for this course now, to become so familiar with the note positions.
It will form the basis of freetime activities before practice too. Especially the note position apps when I have a few mins spare to practice that.
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Wayne
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I know why Justin didn’t include other triads as exercises, but I actually grasped all G, C, D major triad grips in 10 minutes with these exercises, and places of the notes on fretboard along with them. However, I’m struggling with other notes as website does not provide exercises 
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Do you mean you grasped the theory behind them in 10 minutes, or you could actually play them along with a backing track within 10 minutes? I’ve been practicing major and minor triads on strings 1, 2 & 3 for a couple of months now. Playing them over a variety of chord progressions in various keys. I’ll play them with minimum movement along the fretboard then I’ll aim for large movements to change it up a bit and add variety. I’m starting to add triads on strings 2, 3 & 4. I focus on the root note for each grip. That’s helping me learn where the notes are on the fretboard.
I’m not sure what you mean by “other notes”. The three shapes are moveable and you can play them in any key you want.
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If you want to learn triads of other chords (not just G, C and D) then use the same exercises and find backing tracks that use only those chords (there will be hundreds online).
Cheers
Richard
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