Triads

This screen displays and sounds the triads in the keys which are covered by the currently selected Music Theory exam body and grade.  (If you reached this screen from the top menu, it will show all possible triads for the key of C major). For grade 1 and early grades this will only show the triad based on the tonic or 1st degree of the scale. As the grades become more advanced, 'Primary' triads are included, that is, based on tonic, dominant and subdominant. For the higher grades, primary and secondary triads based on every degree of any scale are selectable.

Listening to the chords in the list at top left.
Click any of the triad descriptions in the list box on the left to hear the triad and see it displayed in the notation window. For example "Va  (Dominant Fifth degree of scale) in root position". The Roman and Popular names for the chord are displayed below the staff, and the text panel on the right describes the qualities, construction and naming of the currently highlighted chord. You can also switch between treble and bass clefs.

Testing your triad recognition skill.
Click the green button "Test yourself" to let Musical Discovery play triads at random (from the set applicable to the current exam body and grade). You may choose whether you wish to also see the staff display.  Your task is to name the triad, either using classic relative chord names (e.g. VIb), or modern popular chord names (e.g. Abm/C). The system shows a smiley sun if you get it right, or a sad face when wrong. It also keeps a score-card for you.

Using your skill to add chords to a melody.
Click the yellow button "Harmonize a melody" to go to the "Create Accompaniment" screen. If you had a tune already loaded into memory, this melody will be displayed, with provision for you to enter the triad names below each beat of the bar. You may use either classic roman numeral triad names, or modern (popular) chord names. If no tune were previously loaded, the default melody 'Botany Bay' will be shown.  You may change this by clicking the "Load New" button at bottom right of the screen.


TheoryHarmonyTriadsUserHelp.htm       Wednesday, 30 August 2006 19:08