How to Build the Major Scale with Basic Triad Chords in Jazz Guitar

Triad chords and major scales in jazz guitar figure a little music theory but help you understand note and chord relationships in major scales. Basic guitar triad chords consist of three notes and are based on intervals of one, three and five. These three-note chords compose the first note of the major scale, the third note and the fifth.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Start with the C chord, C-E-G-C-E, and look how it relates to the C major scale: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C.

2. Notice that the root of the C chord is the first note of the C major scale. E is the third note of this major scale and G the fifth. The three notes that make up the C major chord triad are C-E-G. The root (C) and third (E) repeat an octave higher to finish out the C chord.

3. Strum the C chord, then pick C-E-G-C-E and follow it with the C major scale. Practice this on your guitar and hear their pitch relationships.

4. Move to the G chord, G-B-D-G-B-G. The chord triad, G-B-D, is the first, third and fifth note of the G major scale, G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G. Hear the different notes of the chord, scale and triad and understand how they relate as you play.

5. Continue the G major scale across the guitar fretboard to the first string, third fret (G), playing a two-octave G major scale.

6. Play the jazz guitar chord Gmaj7, G-B-D-F#, starting on the fourth string, fifth fret. This chord has the same chord triad (G-B-D) as the G chord but played an octave higher. In addition, the Gmaj7 includes the seventh note of the G major scale, F#.

Resources

• A quick reference to major scales.