Berkleemusic-Triads in Root Position

A chord is a set of three or more notes sounded simultaneously. If the notes are played one after the other, it is called an arpeggio.

Triads are three-note chords. They are built upwards in intervals of thirds from a fundamental note, called a root, which is like the tonic of a scale. The major triad includes the tonic, third, and fifth of the major scale built on the triad's root.

Each of these notes is described by a number corresponding to its scale degree (or interval) away from the root: 1, 3, 5. These numbers are referred to as "functions," as in "E functions as the third of a C major triad."

Play the following C major scale, triad, and arpeggio now.