A systematic naming scheme for triads and related chord structures on C, clarifying interval content and providing consistent terminology for Music Theory & Music Education.
Download Triads & Chords Theory PDFBasic triadic structures, their interval formulas, and traditional names.
| Chord Label | Notes | Intervals (degrees) | Description | Name | Official Name / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major | C – E – G | 1–3–5 | Bright, stable consonance | Major | Major triad (standard) |
| Minor | C – E♭ – G | 1–♭3–5 | Dark, stable consonance | Minor | Minor triad (standard) |
| Diminished | C – E♭ – G♭ | 1–♭3–♭5 | Dark, unstable tension | Diminished | Diminished triad (standard) |
| Diminished Major (Maj♭5) | C – E – G♭ | 1–3–♭5 | Bright root, unstable 5th | Diminished Major / Major♭5 | Diminished major triad |
| Augmented | C – E – G♯ | 1–3–♯5 | Bright, tense, expanded | Augmented | Augmented triad (standard) |
| Minor Augmented | C – E♭ – G♯ | 1–♭3–♯5 | Dark root, bright top | Minor Augmented | Minor augmented triad |
These triads break away from traditional harmony by using unexpected or clashing intervals. They still sound like chords, but with added tension or a more uncertain feel
| Chord Label | Notes | Intervals | Description | Name | Official/Clarifying Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissonant | C – E – F | 1–3–4 | Bright Major Dissonant with 4th | Dissonant Major | Major triad with 5th replaced by 4th |
| Dissonant Minor | C – E♭ – F | 1–♭3–4 | Dark Minor Dissonant with 4th | Dissonant Minor | Minor triad with 5th replaced by 4th |
Structures based on seconds and fourths rather than thirds, giving open, neutral, or tightly packed chords.
| Chord Label | Notes | Intervals | Character | Standardized Name | Explanation / Alias |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartal | C – D – F | 1–2–4 | Neutral, open | Secundal Quartal | Major 2nd over perfect 4th |
| Tritonal | C – D – F# | 1–2–♯4 | Neutral, sharp major 2nd + tritone tension | Secundal Tritonal | Major 2nd over tritone |
| Subquartal | C – D♭ – F | 1–♭2–4 | Dark, compact minor 2nd + major 3rd | Bassecunda Quartal | Minor 2nd over major 3rd |
| Subtritonal | C – D♭ – F# | 1–♭2–♯4 | Dark, compact minor 2nd + tritone | Bassecunda Tritonal | Minor 2nd over tritone |
| Bissecunda | C – D♭ – E | 1–♭2–3 | Tightly packed seconds triad | Bissecunda | Minor 2nd + major 2nd triad |