A chord is composed of multiple notes played simultaneously. Triads usually consist of three distinct tones; for instance, an open C chord contains two Gs, three E’s and a C.
Beginners start by learning major and minor triads as well as their variants such as dominant seventh chord. Next come augmented and diminished chords.
Major Triad
The major triad is an essential chord for rhythm guitar playing. Comprised of roots, thirds and fifths from a scale’s scale–sounding bright and full –it can be played in many configurations to build chord progressions on guitar.
First and foremost, it’s essential that you recognize that triads can be distinguished by their intervals – in general the lower two notes in a major triad are separated by a major third and higher notes by minor thirds. Doublings or open spacing do not affect identification.
Below are chord diagrams displaying closed major triads in all twelve keys, along with examples of their dropped 2 versions. If desired, any major close voiced triad can also have its second highest note shifted up an octave for added effect.
Minor Triad
Minor triads are composed by stacking the root, major third and perfect fifth of any minor scale. Similar to major triads, however, their interval between root and third has been reduced by half-tone (represented with lowercase “b”).
In this article we will learn four minor triad shapes in closed position; that is, all their notes fall within one octave – making this method the quickest and simplest way to form chords.
As with major triads, we will practice open-voiced minor triads, in which chords are mixed and arranged differently than when using stacked triads. Make sure to practice these shapes across the strings instead of only practicing vertically as this will provide you with more flexible harmonic options; try replacing some major triads from songs you know with their minor equivalents for increased versatility!
Sus4
Sus4 chords, also known as suspended 4th chords, are an extremely common musical tool used to add movement and variety to chord progressions. While sus2 chords tend to resolve back into their parent chord more quickly than sus4, sus4 chords provide additional mellowness without becoming melancholy or saddening the sound.
Maj7sus2 chords can add tension to a song in many genres of music, making the tune more interesting. Their use is particularly powerful when used on the V position of any key, where Gsus4 works well or perhaps you might wish to switch out its lower B for an A if fret 2 of your third string does not feature pinky position for fretting an A chord instead. Below is a table demonstrating this relationship between Maj7sus2 chords and various tonic chords in different keys.
Sus2
Sus chords resemble sus4s but differ by leaving out the major third, creating a dissonant sound and often used to delay resolution of chord progressions. They’re an excellent choice for adding tension and surprise into guitar parts.
Sus2 chords can be played solo or paired with major or minor chords for added color in harmony. They’re often heard in rock from the 80s as well as ballads like Prince’s Kiss’ Kiss You that features an E7sus2 riff that stands out in this manner, or added as part of dominant 7th chord harmony for an extra splash. You may also come across these in country and classic rock songs.
Sus3
Suspended chords add depth and tension to a piece of music, and are frequently employed by jazz musicians as an additional way of giving chords a unique flavor.
Though they can be challenging for beginners to grasp, advanced musicians find these chords useful. They can be enhanced further using scales, arpeggios and licks for a unique sound.
Example: Slash chords could be voiced as Csus4, whereby the third note is replaced with an even fourth tone. This technique is commonly employed by jazz musicians when voicing dominant 7th chords but can also be added to other chord types like sus7 for added contrast in compositions.