What is a minor triad?

What is a minor triad?

• A. A chord with a major third on bottom and a minor third on top
• B. A chord with two minor thirds
• C. A chord with two major thirds
• D. A chord with a minor third on the bottom and a major third on top

Answer: (D)

A minor triad is a three-note chord built by stacking a minor third on the bottom and then a major third on top. This means the interval from the root to the middle note is a minor third, and the interval from the middle note to the top note is a major third, giving a root–third–fifth structure with a total distance of seven semitones from root to fifth. The description that matches this pattern—minor third on the bottom, major third on top—is the correct way to describe a minor triad. The other patterns describe a major triad (major third then minor third) or the diminished/augmented triads (two minor thirds or two major thirds).

A minor triad is a three-note chord built by stacking a minor third on the bottom and then a major third on top. This means the interval from the root to the middle note is a minor third, and the interval from the middle note to the top note is a major third, giving a root–third–fifth structure with a total distance of seven semitones from root to fifth. The description that matches this pattern—minor third on the bottom, major third on top—is the correct way to describe a minor triad. The other patterns describe a major triad (major third then minor third) or the diminished/augmented triads (two minor thirds or two major thirds).