What is considered a major triad?

Answer 1

A major triad consists of the first, third, and fifth note in any major scale played harmonically. On sheet music, a triad appears as these notes stacked on top of each other and are written line to line or space to space. The first note in a triad is also the first note of the scale you are writing in, the the third, then the fifth.

An E major triad in the treble clef would be three notes stacked starting on the first line (or fourth space).

E-G#-B.

Three notes from E is G. In an E major scale, the G is sharp.

Some more:

C maj: C-E-G

D maj: D-F#-A

Here is a helpful site for more information: http://www.musictheory.net/

Answer 2

In order to change a major (M) triad to a Minor (m) triad, simply lower the middle note a half step.

For example, if you have the CM triad, you have

Root (the bottom note): C

3rd (the middle note): E

5th (the top note): G

In order to make CM into cm (remember: Major is always capital, Minor is always lower case), lower the 3rd (E) a half step, or flat it. So E becomes E flat, and it turns to:

Root: C

3rd: E flat

5th: G

And you have Minor!

Another example is the G Major (GM).

Root: G

3rd: B

5th: D

to make GM to gm, flat the 3rd.

Root: G

3rd: B flat OR A sharp

5th: D

And you have gm. It's really simple.

Answer 3

Major 3rd plus perfect 5th. Of the same scale obviously. A major triad is a minor third on top of a major third.