the 1st, 3rd and 5th positions relative to that 2nd root note. The second triad below will repeat this, but this time starting on the 2nd note, so its notes will be Eb, Gb and Bbb - ie. Triad chords are built using the 1st, 3rdand 5th notes of the scale, so the first triad below will constructed a chord using notes Db, Fb and Ab. The triad chord will be built using only the notes of the scale we are interested in. Starting from the 1st scale note, each lesson step below will take each note in turn and construct a triad chord using that note as the root / starting note of that chord. The piano keyboard below contains the notes of the Db natural minor scale. When these notes are played one at a time, they are called a B flat minor arpeggio.This step shows the scale note names that will be used to construct all triad chords that harmonize with those scale notes. Therefore, the notes of a B flat minor triad are B flat, D flat, and F. The triad consist of scale degrees 1, 3, and 5 played at the same time. A whole step above D flat is E flat, so we must write a flat in front of the E. A half step above C is D flat, so we need to add that accidental. A whole step above B flat is C, so no accidental is needed. If you need help remembering half steps and whole steps, visit that page in the section on melody. Check every whole step and half step in the scale and write in the accidentals, when appropriate. Do not skip any pitches or repeat any pitches.Ĥ. Write in the first five pitches of that diatonic scale. Write the pattern of whole steps and half steps as they occur between each scale degree (W H W W).ģ. We will continue with the key of B flat, and create a B flat minor triad.Ģ. Just like the major triad, only the numbers 1 through 5 are needed.

Write out the scale degrees under the staff. Follow these steps to determine the pitches of a minor triad:ġ. We create a minor triad from scale degrees 1, 3, and 5 of the natural minor scale. Just as minor scales have a different pattern of whole steps and half steps from major scales, minor chords have a different pattern than major chords.

E flat minor triad