Part III – Open Triads – (PDF 3 of 4)

Triad & Open Triad

The basic A minor triad is build like this : Root / minor 3rd / 5th.
To get an open triad we take the 2nd note of the basic triad and drop it an octave higher : Root / 5th /
minor 3rd.

Then we apply the idea to the Am penta scale, each note will be the root of a new open triad !
We end up with some nice and great sounding minor and add9 open triads.

Example 1

Here's the horizontal way to play those open triads all over the neck.
Example 2

And now applied to each boxes of the Am penta scale.

Regarding the picking hand I choose to play two downstrokes with the pick and play the third note
with the middle finger and so on.
Some tricky fingerings too so take the time to find out the ones that work for you.

Lick 1

First lick starts with open triads and then uses the A dorian mode ?
Lick 2

Here's a more advanced lick. As you can see we start and end the phrase with open triads. In the
middle I use the A dorian mode mixed with chromaticisms.

Example 3

Obviously we can also play all the notes at the same time.

This chapter is quite small but there's lot of phrasing possibilities using open triads. As said before
you have to experiment, use your imagination to find new ideas and applications in your own
playing.