7.11 Ear training: minor, major, diminished and augmented triads

This chapter is a follow-up of Chapter 6.10 Ear training: root position and inversions of triads. You will learn to distinguish root position and inversions of major, minor, diminished and augmented triads by ear.

Root position of minor, major, diminished and augmented triads

Ear Training exercise 7d: distinguishing the difference between minor, major, diminished and augmented triads in root position by ear.

Ear Training exercise 7e: distinguishing the difference between minor, major, diminished and augmented triads in root position by ear. The triads are only played harmonically.

Diminished triads: root position and inversions

Ear Training exercise 7f: distinguishing the difference between a root position and first inversion of the diminished triad by ear.

Ear Training exercise 7g: distinguishing the difference between a root position and second inversion of the diminished triad by ear.

Ear Training exercise 7h: distinguishing the difference between a first and second inversion of the diminished triad by ear.

Ear Training exercise 7i: distinguishing the difference between root position and inversions of the diminished triad by ear.

Ear Training exercise 7j: distinguishing the difference between root position and inversions of the diminished triad by ear. The triads are only played harmonically.

All triads: root position and inversions

Ear Training exercise 7k: distinguishing the difference between type and position of a minor, major, diminished and augmented triad by ear.

Ear Training exercise 7l: distinguishing the difference between type and position of a minor, major, diminished and augmented triad by ear. The triads are only played harmonically.

Example question

Which type and position of the triad do you hear?

The exercise should be completed with the following abbreviations:

• mi = minor
• ma = major
• d = diminished
• a = augmented
• 6 = sixth chord
• 6/4 = six-four chord
• (The root position need not be notated)
• (For the augmented triad, inversions do not need to be specified)

For example: root position of a major triad = ma, first inversion of a minor triad = mi6, second inversion of a diminished triad = d6/4 etc.

Practical steps

Sing the triad being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Determine which of the three notes played is the root.The root is the highest tone, the third is the lowest tone and the fifth is the tone in the middle. Sing the triad in root position and decide whether the triad is major, minor, diminished or augmented.

Answer: d6.