Workshop tool · Free
Guitar triads: every inversion on three strings
Triads are the three-note core of every chord you play, and the fastest way to see the fretboard as one connected map. This tool shows any major, minor, diminished or augmented triad on a set of three adjacent strings, in root position and both inversions, plus every place it appears on the neck. It is for guitarists who want to go beyond open chords and barre shapes and start comping, writing parts and soloing with chord tones.
Included in the free account.
What the triads tool shows
You choose a root (C to B), a quality (major, minor, diminished or augmented) and a string set. The tool then gives you:
- the full neck view: every note of the triad on the three chosen strings, from the open strings to the 15th fret, with the other strings faded and the root highlighted;
- the triad card: the chord name and its three notes;
- the three inversions side by side: root position, 1st inversion and 2nd inversion, each as a vertical diagram with the degree in the bass and a word on its sound.
A Notes / Intervals switch labels every dot either with its note name or with its degree (1, 3, 5 or ♭3, ♭5, ♯5). Four string sets are available: G-B-E (the three highest strings), D-G-B, A-D-G and E-A-D.
Triads and inversions in practice
A triad is a root, a third and a fifth. The quality depends on the two thirds stacked inside it:
- a major chord is
1 3 5(C E G); - a minor chord is
1 ♭3 5(C E♭ G); - a diminished triad is
1 ♭3 ♭5(B D F); - an augmented triad is
1 3 ♯5(C E G♯).
An inversion changes which note is lowest. With C major on the G-B-E strings:
| Inversion | Bass | Frets (G B E) | Notes low to high |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd inversion | 5th | 0 1 0 | G C E |
| Root position | root | 5 5 3 | C E G |
| 1st inversion | 3rd | 9 8 8 | E G C |
Play them in that order and you climb the neck through the same chord; the open shape repeats an octave higher at frets 12, 13, 12. Each shape is a compact three-note voicing that cuts through a band without the weight of a six-string chord.
The real payoff is voice leading. Instead of jumping between positions, pick the nearest inversion of each chord. For C, F and G around the 5th fret on G-B-E: C root position (5 5 3), F 2nd inversion (5 6 5, notes C F A), G 1st inversion (4 3 3, notes B D G), back to C (5 5 3). Your hand barely moves, and the top line moves smoothly from G to A to G.
What is free and what needs Premium
You need a free GuitarHarmony account to open the workshop; the tool runs in your browser on computer, tablet or phone, with nothing to install.
Free: all 12 roots, all four qualities (major, minor, diminished, augmented), the three inversions, the neck view and the Notes / Intervals labels on the G-B-E string set.
With Premium: the three other string sets, D-G-B, A-D-G and E-A-D. Premium costs 4.90 € a month or 39 € a year and also unlocks every other Premium tool and the Pro library. Locked sets show a padlock, and the plans are detailed on the pricing page.
How to practise triads with the tool
- One quality, one set, all keys. Learn the three major shapes on G-B-E, then move them through C, F, B♭ and E♭. The shapes do not change, only their position.
- Name the bass out loud. Before playing a shape, say whether the 1, the 3 or the 5 is on the bottom. That habit is what makes inversions automatic.
- Compare major and minor. Switch between C major and C minor without moving: only the third drops one fret (E to E♭), which shows you exactly where the colour of the chord lives.
- Check shapes you find elsewhere. If you stumble on a three-note shape in a song, enter it in the chord identifier to see which triad and inversion it is.
- Go further later. Once triads feel natural, four-note drop-2 voicings follow the same logic with a seventh added.
How to use it
- Choose a root. Click a note in the root row. The neck view and diagrams update immediately.
- Choose the triad quality. Pick Major, Minor, Diminished or Augmented. The triad card shows the chord name and its three notes.
- Choose a string group. Select the G-B-E set (free) or, with Premium, D-G-B, A-D-G or E-A-D. The other strings fade on the neck.
- Study the three inversions. Read the three diagrams: root position, 1st and 2nd inversion, each with its bass degree. Switch Notes / Intervals to see note names or degrees.
What you can do with it
Comping in a band
When a keyboard or second guitar already plays full chords, play triads on G-B-E. They stay out of the bass player's register and sound clear.
Learning the neck by chord tones
Take A minor on G-B-E: 2 1 0 (A C E), then 5 5 5 (C E A), then 9 10 8 (E A C). Three shapes cover the neck from the nut to the 10th fret.
Writing a second guitar part
Over a song in G with G, C and D, find inversions close together on the top strings for a part that sits above the rhythm guitar.
Frequently asked questions
What are guitar triad inversions?
The same three notes in a different order. Root position has the root in the bass, the 1st inversion the third, the 2nd inversion the fifth. On a three-string set they give three shapes for each triad along the neck.
Which string set should I learn first?
G-B-E, the three highest strings. The shapes are compact, they sound clear in a band, and that set is free in the tool.
Does the tool include diminished and augmented triads?
Yes. Every root can be shown as a major, minor, diminished or augmented triad, with its three inversions.
What do I get with Premium?
The three other string sets: D-G-B, A-D-G and E-A-D. The G-B-E set, all qualities and all roots are free.