NotePlayMusicTonic Triads Practice
Recognize tonic triads and their keys from written notation, ported from ABRSM Grade 1 style practice questions.
Build a tonic triad from degrees 1, 3 and 5
A tonic triad takes the first, third and fifth notes of its key scale. C major gives C–E–G; F major gives F–A–C; G major gives G–B–D. The notes may appear above or below one another on the staff: identify their pitches, not just their shape.
A key signature matters. D major uses F sharp, so its tonic triad is D–F sharp–A. The same letter names with F natural do not spell the D major tonic triad.
How to work it out
- Start from the named tonic and count scale degrees 1, 3 and 5, applying the key signature.
- Read all three notated notes and compare them with that set, regardless of their visual arrangement.
Worked example
Would G–B–D count as the tonic triad of C major?
No. C major needs C–E–G for its tonic triad. G–B–D is the tonic triad of G major.
Watch for this mistake
Not every chord containing the tonic note is a tonic triad: all three required scale degrees must match.
Learning objectives
- Recognize whether a written triad is the tonic triad of a given key.
- Identify the key that matches a given tonic triad.
Worksheet
Select TRUE or FALSE for the statement: This is the tonic triad of G major.
Answer: ______________________
Select TRUE or FALSE for the statement: This is the tonic triad of F major.
Answer: ______________________
Select TRUE or FALSE for the statement: This is the tonic triad of D 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: ______________________
Answer Key
- TRUE — The tonic triad of G major is G, B, D.
- FALSE — The tonic triad of F major is F, A, C, not C, E, G.
- FALSE — The tonic triad of D major is D, F sharp, A.
- F major — The tonic triad F, A, C belongs to F major.
- G major — The tonic triad G, B, D belongs to G major.
- D major — The tonic triad D, F sharp, A belongs to D major.
- C major — The tonic triad C, E, G belongs to C major.