Hi! Thanks for purchasing this introduction to practicing triad pairs on guitar!

Triad pairs are a very interesting and refreshing resource for improvisation,
however, assimilating them can propose quite a challenge!

The guitar’s natural fretboard mechanics demands us organizing and

visualizing the same material in a variety of ways. In doing so we can aim at
being more flexible in our playing and move with more freedom across the
fretboard.

In this tutorial I propose two approaches , Horizontal and Vertical , as a method

for practice. Again, the aim is to internalize the shapes, digitations, positions
and possibilities as much as we can. Also, 4 mp3 backing tracks are included in the
download for you to practice over, as well as 4 examples of improvisations over
the tracks , with transcriptions included in this material of some of the phrases.

I hope you have fun exploring these sounds!

Damien Poots

Index

Horizontal Approach 1
Diagrams
Examples and exercises

Vertical Approach 3
Diagrams
Examples and exercises

Video Transcriptions 5

Ideas for practice 7

Application over chords 9

Chart of uses
Chart in 12 keys
Appendix 12
Major triad apreggio diagram
 “Horizontal Approach”

For this first approach for practicing triad pairs we will divide the guitar in groups of 3
strings and play the triads with their inversions across the fretboard.
This limitation will be very benificial as it proposes us to integrate the whole fretboard in
our playing and it is also a necesary step to take in order to thoroughly map out the triads
positions on the guitar.
Important note! : Throughout the examples in this pdf we will just see two major triads a whole tone
apart but keep in mind that this concept can be applied to any other combination of triads.

Here are the positions for Ab and Bb. Once you feel comfortable with this pair, it is suggested
to transpose them to the remaining 12 keys!

Ex: Ab and Bb major triads.

Bb
Ab

Strings 1-2-3

Strings 2-3-4

Strings 3-4-5

Strings 4-5-6

*See appendix in last page for diagram of major triads on the fretboard. 1
Here are some examples on how to play the triads across the fretboard.

Try also playing the examples descending and/or changing the pattern.
Try improvising with one set of strings over a vamp (see chart for uses!)

Ex 1: Ab and Bb major triads on Strings 1-2-3.

  
        

            





  








   








   






Ex 2: Ab and Bb major triads on Strings 2-3-4.

       

    
Fm

             


 



   







    






  





Ex 3: Ab and Bb major triads on Strings 3-4-5.

   

 
Bb7sus4

     
        
 

      



   






  




 
   





 

Ex 4: Ab and Bb major triads on Strings 4-5-6.

Bb7sus4

                 


                



    
  
        
    
   

2
Ex 5: Ab and Bb major triads “Up and Down” on Strings 1-2-3.

Fm7

D7alt
       Bb7sus4
 

                 
     


      
 



    
    

    
   

 Ab/C
   
D7alt Ebmaj7

               
     

   

 
  
     


  
   

  
   

!
There are many possible Digitations Aim at A rticulating clearly each note and having
best control as possible over the Rhythm !

“Vertical Approach”

Playing vertically implies playing the triads mainly in one position. In a position (5 frets
distance aprox.) we find the triads changing string sets. Naturally there are many
possibilities, this means that this approach is flexible and that we will have to discover
as many digitations as we need.
Explore.

Example of two triads in one position:

Eb and F

Here are some patterns and exercises to practice.

3
Ex 6: Eb and F major triads “Up and Down”, through string sets.

    
F7sus4
     

              







    
        






         
Ebmaj7(#11)


            

 
 







     
        





Ex 7: Eb and F major triads “Up and Down”, through string sets (different position).

        
Cm7


Ebmaj7
     

                






































       










F7sus4
                





































  Ebmaj7
 

 
Cm7
         


        








































   
Ex 8: Eb and F major triads. Up first triad, down to nearest note of the second triad and up.

           

        

 


       
   
     

 

4
 Video Transcriptions:

Ex9: Eb and F major triads. Examples over Cm7 (Transcription 3:07/3:35)

Bossa
               

         
      
Cm7

 



        




           



     



                       

    
 

 


             
 


      

 
 

 

                    





          

  








 
   


         

   
       
     
     
  

Ex10: Eb and F major triads. Examples over Ebmaj7 (Transcription 4:22/4:49)

Rock

 Ebmaj7       
             

      

  
     






 
            







                        

     
  
      

   
      
                    


       
 

  
                    

  


        



     


          

        
      

 

5
 Ex11: Ab and Bb major triads. Examples over Bb7sus4 (Transcription 2:34/2:48)

Funk


Bb7sus4
            
                 



  

  
  
     



 


   
   

  


            
  

     

     
         

 









































              

             


   














































Ex12: Ab and Bb major triads. Examples over Fm7 (Transcription 1:04/1:24)

     
Waltz

Fm7


                           
       
    

       







































  





        

            
             












































                   


          









































6
 Ideas for practice

Here are some ideas and patterns to practice.

Once you are comfortable with them
you could apply the following ideas:
. Find different ways to play these ideas
on the fretboard
(These fingerings are just suggestions)
. Transpose to different keys
. Play over different chords (see chart)
. Improvise changing the rhythm freely
and combining different ideas
. Create your own patterns

All examples use the triads of F and G

1

     


       
    
  



          
       
         



         
 
        
 

 
    
       
  

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12 13 10 12 10
10 12 10 10 12 10
10 12 10 12 9 10 12 9
8 12 10 8 12 10 8
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8
7

            

          

 


       

 

 





 

   
  

 
    


     
    
 
  

   

Applications over Chords

There are many uses of these two triads over different chords. Each one has its
own sound and colour.
Explore each one of them. First over vamps and then in the context of different
chord progression such as a Blues or any popular standard.

Here is a chart for uses of 2 Major triads a whole tone apart.

Examples in C

Chord type Triads Chord Tones

C Maj7#11, C 7(#11) C/D I/II T 3 5 / 9 #11 13

C Maj7#5 D/E II/III 9 #11 13 / 3 #5 7

C m7(13)
Eb/F bIII/IV
b3 5 b7 / 11 13 T

C 7alt F#/G# #IV/#V #11 b7 b9 #5 / T #9

C m7(b13) Ab/Bb bVI/bVII b13 T b3 / b7 9 11

C7, C 7 sus4 (9) Bb/C bVII/I b7 9 11 / T 3 5

9
Triad Pairs chart in 12 Keys.

G D
Chord type Triads Chord type Triads

G Maj7#11, G 7(#11) G/A I/II D Maj7#11, D 7(#11) D/E I/II

G Maj7#5 A/B II/III D Maj7#5 E/F# II/III

G m7(13) Bb/C bIII/IV D m7(13) F/G bIII/IV

G 7alt C#/D# #IV/#V D 7alt Ab/Bb #IV/#V

G m7(b13) Eb/F bVI/bVII D m7(b13) Bb/C bVI/bVII

G7, G 7 sus4 (9) F/G bVII/I D7, D 7 sus4 (9) C/D bVII/I

A E
Chord type Triads Chord type Triads

A Maj7#11, A 7(#11) A/B I/II E Maj7#11, E 7(#11) E/F# I/II

A Maj7#5 B/C# II/III E Maj7#5 F#/G# II/III

A m7(13) C/D bIII/IV E m7(13) G/A bIII/IV

A 7alt Eb/F #IV/#V E 7alt Bb/C #IV/#V

A m7(b13) F/G bVI/bVII E m7(b13) C/D bVI/bVII

A7, A 7 sus4 (9) G/A bVII/I E7, E 7 sus4 (9) D/E bVII/I

B F#
Chord type Triads Chord type Triads

B Maj7#11, B 7(#11) B/C# I/II F# Maj7#11, F# 7(#11) F#/G# I/II

B Maj7#5 C#/D# II/III F# Maj7#5 G#/A# II/III

B m7(13) D/E bIII/IV F# m7(13) A/B bIII/IV

B 7alt F/G #IV/#V F# 7alt C/D #IV/#V

B m7(b13) G/A bVI/bVII F# m7(b13) D/E bVI/bVII

B7, B 7 sus4 (9) A/B bVII/I F#7, F#7 sus4 (9) E/F# bVII/I

10
Db Ab
Chord type Triads Chord type Triads

Db Maj7#11, Db 7(#11) Db/Eb I/II Ab Maj7#11, Ab 7(#11) Ab/Bb I/II

Db Maj7#5 Eb/F II/III Ab Maj7#5 Bb/C II/III

Db m7(13) Fb/Gb bIII/IV Ab m7(13) Cb/Db bIII/IV

Db 7alt G/A #IV/#V Ab 7alt D/E #IV/#V

Db m7(b13) A/B bVI/bVII Ab m7(b13) Fb/Gb bVI/bVII

Db7, Db7 sus4 (9) Cb/Db bVII/I Ab7, Ab7 sus4 (9) Gb/Ab bVII/I

Eb Bb
Chord type Triads Chord type Triads

Eb Maj7#11, Eb 7(#11) Eb/F I/II Bb Maj7#11, Bb 7(#11) Bb/C I/II

Eb Maj7#5 F/G II/III Bb Maj7#5 C/D II/III

Eb m7(13) Gb/Ab bIII/IV Bb m7(13) Db/Eb bIII/IV

Eb 7alt A/B #IV/#V Bb 7alt E/F# #IV/#V

Eb m7(b13) Cb/Db bVI/bVII Bb m7(b13) Gb/Ab bVI/bVII

Eb7, Eb7 sus4 (9) Db/Eb bVII/I Bb7, Bb7 sus4 (9) Ab/Bb bVII/I

F
Chord type Triads

F Maj7#11, F 7(#11) F/G I/II

F Maj7#5 G/A II/III

F m7(13) Ab/Bb bIII/IV

F 7alt B/C# #IV/#V

F m7(b13) Db/Eb bVI/bVII

F7, F7 sus4 (9) Eb/F bVII/I

11
Appendix

Major Triad
example in A
Tonic 3rd 5th

12