Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Im going over the theory and on the Triads sections (Minor Triads), im finding it quite difficult to piece together the R-M3-5 note combination. I have the fretboard memorized to a certain extent (about a second or two to come up with the note), but when it comes to making a triad, its quite tricky to do it quickly.

1) Whats the best way to practice triads to get faster at finding out where they are
2) Do professional guitar players just memorize the shape/pattern or do they know which notes are in that triad?

I used the major scale starting on the root note, ascend up to the third and the fifth, on any string set that allows that, to see the note locations for each of these three notes. If two notes are on one string when ascending the scale, just find one of them on the adjacent available string. These triads also form the chord across the neck, so you will see familiar shapes as fragments of those chords; for example, the 'open' D-shape on the top 3 strings is 5-R-3, although the 5 is an octave down from the one you'll find if you ascend the major scale starting from the root..Flat the 3 -- drown a half step -- for the minor triad. Then repeat up the neck, modifying the shape as you go.

Tomo demonstrates in Theory 11 Minor Triads
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/music-theory-i/videos/theory-11-minor-triads

It's really about how the guitar is constructed. The first fact that each string is tuned up a fourth from the last, except for the B string which is tuned up a major third. The A string is tuned up a 4th from the low E (e.g. E to A is a major fourth), D is a 4th from A, and so on, except for B, which is a major third from G. Once you understand that, and you know where the root note of the triad is, the rest should follow. It's absolutely all about intervals. A Do Mi So triad is a major third from Do to Mi and a minor third from Mi to So. The "shape" of every Do Mi So triad on the neck reflects this, but don't memorize the shape, think about the intervals and how the neck is constructed, as well as the sound/character. Likewise, A Mi So Do triad is a minor third from Mi to So, as well as a Fourth from So to Do. Just keep chugging along at it. Don't expect it to come too fast. Work on it everyday. Try singing the degrees as well with solfege to improve your ear training. Triads are the key to everything!

great responses above. i'm not very theory based, but here's how i improved at triads...

if you're good at memorizing patterns, that will help you be able to quickly identify notes.

i found it's very useful to memorize the root note positions.

you can also play a triad, name the triad, and then determine the root note of that triad.

for example, if you play the A major triad, that's 6-5-5 on the (3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings respectively).

the root note is on the 1st string (A). then go through the fretboard to identify all triads in the key of A.

what also helps me is playing a 3 chord sequence using only triads.

that helps me get more used to playing triads in the context of a chord sequence, rather than only memorizing the triads where they are on the fretboard.

what you'll probably find is that the same chord sequence can be played without moving your fingers very far from the frets.

once you find one set of chords, you can try to find the same sequence on a different part of the fretboard.

for a 3rd exercise, you can also try playing the relative minor of the key.

this is a lot more challenging. bring up the circle of fifths if you're having trouble with this.

this will help you play both major and minor keys, then find the relative major/minor for that key.

really helps when you can play the relative minor for a major key.

anyway, just my two cents. hope it helps :)

Here is Tomo's comment:

"Thanks so much for subscribing to my Guitar Wisdom. First of all, please try not to memorize triads. Be familiar with each triad: names of notes, degrees and sound. Take your time! After you get familiar with Major triads, you can learn minor triads: just lower the 3rd by a half-step."