Building major triads

mgshotgun · #1 06-21-2005, 12:59 AM

Hi, this is my first post here at talkbass, and Im pretty new to music theory, so I apologize for my ignorance.

My bass instructor gave me a practice sheet saying to go around the circle of 4ths, building major triads starting at C and going around. For the first two notes (C&F) I know how to build a major triad (for C, notes C-E-G and for F, F-A-C) but once I get to the note Bb I get confused. Are All three notes supposed to be be flats? (Bb-Db-Fb) or is the triad supposed to go Bb-D-F?

Also, for whichever way the Bb triad is supposed to go, can I apply it the same way to the other flat triads?

Thanks for the help!

**Edited to correct notes**

Osama_Spears · #2 06-21-2005, 01:04 AM

correct me if Im wrong,but isnt the C major triad : C-E-G,not C-B-G?

and the Bb major triad is Bb-D-F. Just because the root is flat doesnt mean you flat the 3rd and 5th.

mgshotgun · #3 06-21-2005, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osama_Spears

correct me if Im wrong,but isnt the C major triad : C-E-G,not C-B-G?

and the Bb major triad is Bb-D-F. Just because the root is flat doesnt mean you flat the 3rd and 5th.

Oops yes i ment C-E-G, sorry its late here.
And thanks for clearing up the Bb triad, it'll make the practice sheet much easier!

JimmyM · #4 06-21-2005, 01:15 AM

Bb-D-F. You have to count half steps between the notes. From Bb, you have B, C, C# and finally D, so that's 4 half steps up. From D you go D#, E and F, so that's 3 half steps.

Pop quiz: what's next in the circle and what's the triad?