NotePlayMusicGrade 2: Tonic Triads Practice
Identifying and completing tonic triads. Grade 2 includes minor tonic triads as well as major, based on the ABRSM Grade 2 syllabus.
Distinguish major and minor tonic triads
A tonic triad contains scale degrees 1, 3 and 5. For F major, those pitches are F–A–C; for D minor, D–F–A; and for A minor, A–C–E. Major and minor triads may share a root and fifth but differ in their third.
Read all three written pitches before judging a triad. Apply any sharps or flats from the key signature: the D major tonic triad needs F sharp, while D minor uses F natural.
How to work it out
- Name the key and spell its first, third and fifth scale notes.
- Check each notated pitch, including accidentals; the three notes must match the key’s tonic triad.
Worked example
Which tonic triad uses E flat, G and B flat?
E flat is the root, G is its major third and B flat is its fifth. These spell the E flat major tonic triad.
Watch for this mistake
Three notes stacked in thirds are not automatically the tonic triad of the named key; the root and altered third must agree.
Happy or sad? One note decides
Hear C major turn into C minor when one note drops a semitone, then hear the same change in Frère Jacques.
Learning objectives
- Identify tonic triads, including minor tonic triads.
- Recognize the root, 3rd, and 5th of a triad.
- Complete a triad from two given notes.
Worksheet
Select TRUE or FALSE for the statement: This is the tonic triad of D minor.
Answer: ______________________
Select TRUE or FALSE for the statement: This is the tonic triad of F major.
Answer: ______________________
Select the correct key for this tonic triad.
Answer: ______________________
Select the correct key for this tonic triad.
Answer: ______________________
Select the correct key for this tonic triad.
Answer: ______________________
Select the correct key for this tonic triad.
Answer: ______________________
Select the correct key for this tonic triad.
Answer: ______________________
Answer Key
- TRUE — The notes shown are D, F and A, which is the tonic triad of D minor, so the statement is TRUE.
- FALSE — The notes shown are A, C and E (the tonic triad of A minor), not F, A, C, so the statement is FALSE.
- G major — The triad is G, B, D, so the key is G major.
- D major — The triad is D, F sharp, A, so the key is D major.
- E flat major — The triad is E flat, G, B flat, so the key is E flat major.
- F major — The triad is F, A, C, so the key is F major.
- A minor — The triad is A, C, E, so the key is A minor.