The Tiny Chord Shapes Found Inside Bar Chords - How To Play Triads On Guitar

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I love using bar chords to illustrate different concepts on the guitar. But in this video, I want to talk about my favorite alternative to bar chords: Triads. These tiny chord shapes can be found all over the fretboard and are one of the most important steps to fully understanding the guitar. Triads will help you with improvising guitar solos, using and understanding the CAGED system, writing your own guitar parts, and communicating with other musicians. I should mention that we'll be tying these new shapes into our existing chord roadmaps so you can start using them right away!
If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks for watching!
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-- Videos I referenced in this lesson --
Where Do Chords Come From?: • Where Do Chords Really...
Chord Roadmaps: • Use These Guitar Chord...
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My Thomann Gear Page: www.thomann.de/intl/thlpg_a52...
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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:34 - What if you can already play bar chords?
1:47 - One quick thing...
1:58 - What are triads?
3:34 - Getting a triad from bar chords
5:23 - The secret to navigating with triads
6:37 - Muting
8:36 - Triads with the chord roadmaps
9:41 - Triads from our other bar chords
11:53 - New triad shapes with roadmaps
12:30 - Inversions
13:31 - The exception
13:56 - Why are triads so important?
14:21 - The most useful inversion
15:19 - Back to our roadmap
15:58 - A chord progression using triads
16:13 - What comes next?
16:48 - A quick announcement
_______________________________________________
Music Credits:
Georgetown Cafe by Popoi | / popoimusic
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
#guitarchords #guitarlesson #musictheory #triads

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Please let me know if you'd like me to continue expanding on the topic of triads. They're a super effective way to navigate and understand the fretboard, and are vital to learning my approach to the CAGED system as well. As always, thank you for watching! :) P.S. My Patreon is now available: patreon.com/AndrewClarke

[@johncoreymorris]

Please do Andrew! Been playing for 15 years and this is a game changer for me. Would also be great with a few examples to put the theory to practice. Nothing fancy, just a nice progression that we can use as a blueprint. 🙏

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@johncoreymorris For sure! Thanks Corey.

[@shalomthomas2981]

Please don't hesitate to go ahead. Your lesson are superb very very clear and absorbable.....😀❤️

[@Kevinschart]

Yeah inversions are really useful depending on where you're playing on the neck. Would like to hear your thoughts on that. Very nice lessons.

[@skutty5773]

Good lesson but you're speaking too fast and there's no gap between your sentences it's very tiring trying to listen to you. You're a good teacher but here's some advice for you slow down chill out and relax man

[@calicojack5623]

If you practice everything this guy teaches you consistently you will break into intermediate. I’ve known guitar for a year and literally started watching his videos a few months ago and now I’m able to hold down playing lead for my church. Thanks bro frfr you’re an amazing teach

[@thenextkurt]

I've been using these videos as lessons with my music student. Super well communicated and great presentation of super essential information

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That is just amazing! I love hearing this :D

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm glad you're finding them so helpful Andy!

[@Kevinschart]

That's awesome man. His lessons cut through the bull and get you playing as a musician and not just a robot

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@Kevinschart 🙌🙌

[@grandpaguitarist5412]

My God man! You are the best guitar teacher I have ever seen. I have never really understood triads until now. Let me know when you are going to have a paetron sign up. I'll gladly join. Thanks for all the hard work.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm so happy to hear it made things click for you! Cheers :)

[@lbrandon1227]

Thank you sir for helping me learning guitar. From Mauritius🇲🇺

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

My pleasure!

[@teh_nagato]

Also the note for those who pass by. I’ve said it in another Andrew’s video comments and I just have to repeat: these lessons are not worth and sometimes better then some top youtubers will sell you for 100$. So consider supporting Andrew on Patreon. The kind of youtuber who is not baiting you for courses and Patreon for paywall content is rare today.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I appreciate this so much 🙏

[@storiesbyowen]

This is literally the best video on KZbin about Triads.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I love hearing that 🙏🏻😁

[@KingShaka_daGreat]

I wish folks on KZbin explained things the way you do. The root, the 3rd and the 5th 💡

[@johncoreymorris]

One of the best guitar teachers on KZbin. Keep it up 👍

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you very much!

[@GhostofMozart]

I've played for 17 years.Please never apologize for something seeming to "basic". While I have close to two decades worth of experience, truthfully, I only have about six months worth of skill. My technical ability with my fingers is great but I completely neglected music theory this whole time now I'm stuck in muscle memory and I don't understand what I'm doing so starting over from scratch with these videos has been so helpful and it takes me some time to understand I need the "basic" explanations right now even with 17 years of "experience" . It's frustrating to feel like I don't know how to play after doing it almost my whole life, but this is helping me get over the hump and connect of what I should have known. This is the CORRECT way to start. You will be better than me within six months if you follow this guy and practice consistently.

[@kagenotatsumaki]

Dude, thank you SO much for pointing out to my dumb brain to see the root on the E and A strings when playing on the the other 4 strings! I actually have E and A solidly memorized, but D G and B are complete roadblocks for some reason and I NEVER thought to see where the full barre chord shape would be! Because, again, I'm freaking dumb lol

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm glad the trick works for you! It makes everything click so much faster for me as well 😅

[@devaalwyn361]

I think I started watching your videos last month . That time you had only 3k Subs. Now you r growing massively. You deserve more Subs, like and view. My guitar practice and play has gone to a different level since I started watching your videos. Keep up the Great work for The Guitar.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Seems like I'm being blessed by the KZbin algorithm lately. I'm very grateful. And I'm glad you've been enjoying the videos 😀

[@dougsmith8430]

You are outstanding at slowing down and explaining things… that makes you stand out from other teachers! 🎸🎶

[@MtechMusic1]

Really enjoying these tutorials Andrew! Definitely keep them going, great work again! It's also awesome to see how much your channel is growing from following you since your part 1 solo improv video last year. Well deserved👍

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you so much, my friend!

[@Alzermull]

Great stuff Andrew, keep them coming, very helpful indeed 👍🤘.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Appreciate you checking out the videos 🙌🏻

[@expatriate-life4431]

Another great lesson. Thank you!!!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Glad you liked it!

[@sidsm3978]

Hurray! another gold nugget. thanks, man.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Any time! 😁

[@71israel]

This was brilliant! Thank you!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

My pleasure! Glad you liked it. :)

[@Paulmccarthy6801]

Definitely would like to see more on triads. Your videos are excellent. Love the way you break down these triads. So helpful. I’m pretty new on guitar so everything helps.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

More to come! I'm glad you're liking the videos. Thanks for watching :)

[@shawnbell6392]

This was super helpful.

[@telev2]

the best teacher ever!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you 🙏

[@BigAlS4]

Great intro videos! I haven't heard all of these concepts explained so simply and clearly before. It's inspired me to pick the guitar back up and start practicing again.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Awesome! I'm happy to hear that :)

[@alanredknap6068]

Really awesome...I love understanding the theory and you explained it really clearly.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Glad to hear that!

[@jeffreyburnwood8084]

This is so eye opening about shapes and barre chords. This was so helpful that it helps me to identify more quickly the target notes when playing the blues :D Thank you so much!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're so welcome!

[@D.Boon1]

Another great lesson , thanks Andrew!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

My pleasure!

[@MJsap13]

Thanks for this lesson! This was exactly what I was looking for, but couldn’t find anywhere else. Finding ways to create those major and minor triad inversions on the middle strings was the missing link I needed. I’ve always seen really good guitar players I admire use those techniques in solos, but I had no clue what they were doing. I was tired of just noodling around in the pentatonic scale, and wanted to expand my playing and incorporate more melodic techniques, and your channel is the only one I’ve found that expands on the techniques I’m trying to learn. KZbin is a big and confusing place, but when you find a teacher who can give you what you’ve been looking for in a way you can fully absorb, it’s like winning the lottery

[@DanielGAndrew]

Hey Andrew, another great lesson. Knew these triad shapes in isolation, but now from this video being able to reference them to the barre chord and roadmap positions is a game changer. Thanks man!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Sweeet! That was the goal. Thanks for watching!!

[@twobrothers5855]

Man you're legend!) i was so struggling with triads and you describe it so clear that i understand now) thank you so much. Waiting for a caged videos, keep it up !!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching :)

[@jbdelicious4801]

That was a great lesson. I really struggle watching most tutorials, but yours are so on point.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That's great! I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@keithlamontdavis8047]

Super helpful lesson, explained in a way that really helps you make use of the information. Thank you.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're very welcome!

[@QuickPlayShowcase]

your guitar content is really awesome!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you for checking out the videos! 🙏

[@teh_nagato]

Man, I’m really bad with getting some music theory and music concepts, but your way of showing everything and pacing of explanations is just works. You work hard to be so clear, and I really respect your effort! Looking forward to see the next video.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm so happy that you're liking the videos. Lots more to come :)

[@endtimeawakening5557]

Just found this channel and I'm really liking it. I've always had an ear for music and could pick up songs on the piano and guitar by ear, but never learned the mechanics of the instrument. You do a great job as a teacher and I very much appreciate that you're sharing your gift with us. Thanks, God bless!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm so glad you're enjoying the channel. Thank you very much :)

[@danieleng2090]

Please continue. I find these triads very helpful in jamming with a band, just like you said, " find your place in a band". Well explained and useful !!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That's the plan! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@civicstar982]

This was very helpful because it helps explain why things happen and work and this is what I always need

[@craiggamble1083]

Yes Andrew, please expand more on triads. They have been the single most thing to start to unlock the fret board somewhat and my overall understanding of this beautiful instrument is growing through triad lessons. Keep ‘em coming my friend!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Will do!

[@stevieramone69]

A few lightbulb moments for me here in a well explained lesson. Looking forward to more triad content 👍

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Great to hear!

[@drewdietz2115]

love me some triads; they sound good with other musicians playing along. "finding your space" is exactly correct, nice lesson.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Exactly! Thanks for watching!

[@siddhichetia]

Thank you Andrew after watching and understanding your lessons I am getting a better hold on the guitar now, just because of you i am improving in a better pace. The way you teach your guitar theory makes more sense than any other.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you for watching 🙏🏻

[@luvnxor]

love ur content man very high quality n helpful. I've been watching ur vids recently and im very surprised you don't pull more views. keep up the work i know you'll prosper

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I appreciate that 🙏

[@joshuagopie9989]

Love this. I play in a worship band at church and we have 2 other guitar players as well as two keyboard players so these shapes will help me stand out. Thank you !

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That’s the perfect application! Very nice 😁

[@michaelc5373]

I definitely would loved a video about the CAGED system. Your videos have been the most helpful in helping me understand how music works. It's completely changed the way I look at my guitar.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I love hearing that. Glad you're enjoying them. CAGED video is coming :)

[@Citylove323]

Love what you do Brotha Spread the love of music. Music is life. That’s the life of a musician god bless

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

🙏🙏

[@stewea57]

I would love to see tying the triads to pentatonic shapes

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Good suggestion!

[@katariina7697]

I'm starting to sound like a broken record with my comments, but yeeees, please expand! Thanks again, this was awesome. :)

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Haha, nothing wrong with that! I love hearing from you guys :)

[@dougsmith8430]

This Triad lesson was 7 Months ago… I’ve learned the caged system, the major and minor Pentatonics and the blues Scales… Triads and Arpeggios to emphasize Chord tones are what is missing in my playing…. So YES !!! To all all Triad lessons! Really glad I ran across this lesson/ your guitar website here! Just subscribed!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Awesome! Glad you've been enjoying the lessons :)

[@YenPitchayen]

Super intuitive. I really like the idea to link it with barred chords. It's very easy to follow along for a beginner like me.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Awesome! I'm glad it worked for you :)

[@meo150]

Congrats for getting past the finger issue i have a totally non functional small pinky knuckle and it was reallllly hard to power through. Great videos!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

It came from an injury I got while working at my old job right out of highschool. Took years to actually get used to. Thankfully, it doesn't hold me back too much anymore. Cheers!

[@hybridjohn1]

@ budding guitarists: Andrew shared everything you need to advance your playing to the next level in 1 video. Learn the shapes and understand the interval relationship between the notes. @ Andrew: killer teaching style man. Not new material for me but always great to review while looking to identify and fill any gaps in knowledge / polish my approach to the instrument. Also, more triad videos please 🙂

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Appreciate that 🙏🏻 and sure thing!

[@chesterburnett3466]

I find triads super useful, since I have a wrist injury that interferes with full barre chords. Your lessons are so useful and informative.Just signed up at your Patreon page. Thanks!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks so much, Chester!

[@nayanjd1164]

can't thank you enough Andrew! make more videos on soloing please. i believe I've picked up enough theory lol

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Sure!

[@MusicJunkieVideos]

Great stuff, would love to see a series on inversions and spread triads.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Something I'll be doing very soon!

[@JoseRogerTabaresHumbid]

Thank you

[@debbiewalsh2357]

Awesome channel

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you!

[@Lizzardking]

I cant thank you enough Andrew! I'm learning a lot with your videos. It would be great if you could make a similar video with other chord shapes I've seen (also using 3 fingers) and dont understand quite well yet, like maj7, min7, sus2, sus4, etc.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Great suggestion!

[@FrankThaThird]

So far, this and Gillaume Metz video have been the best triad videos, although yours is a tad better for my simpleton mind lol.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Haha, I appreciate that! Glad I could help.

[@boettin916]

YES

[@alessandrosilveira9009]

Hi Andrew, I started watching your videos and they are changing on a very positive way my journey on the learning process to enjoy every moment with my guitar. Could you share with us about what road map we could follow to improve the guitar playing experience? I am playing at the church and I see the need to explore more the whole neck on the rhythm perspective. Thank you again for the amazing work that you are doing!!!!

[@kanankumardas5475]

Very nice, sir

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks for watching!

[@markburgesser7463]

I know barre chords but didn't understand triads. Thank you so much for explaining the relationship.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@zantonz]

Would really appreciate a follow up video, however not even more about shapes and inversions, but how to use triads in playing real music, with examples. Because, you are right, there are thousands lessons on different shapes and systems how to memorize them (just technic), but hard to find videos on how to use them when playing real music, improvising, creating melodies, connecting chords.

[@user-tt1zj5pp5w]

More triad related goodies!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Sure thing!

[@tedtedguitar]

that is a beautiful suhr, sir.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I think so too!

[@Addistoday]

wow, this is really advanced skill, i presume!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Once you get some intermediate skills down you can definitely do it :)

[@graemeguy341]

Excellent and thanks. maybe some more examples of chord progressions please

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'll add it to the list of videos I need to make. Thanks for watching!

[@chesterburnett3466]

Great lesson, as always. On the topic of muting, if possible, I try to use the finger (or nail) that's on the lowest string being played, to mute the lower string next to it. As far as further triad videos, sign me up. Thanks

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That's an excellent tip! Thanks for watching. 🙌

[@akk9964]

Do you plan to have a video about strumming? I haven't played guitar for a while, I wanna pick it up again, but I was always struggling with what my right hand is supposed to be doing at all and I'm nervous to start again because of that. Tutorials usually don't focus on that.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Great idea! I'll add it to the list and do a video on it very soon. Thanks!

[@eddieisgreat5150]

Hey Andrew, is this a different room,? Just wondering lol your other vids have a shelf behind you with pedals on it and stuff.havent. watched the vid yet i will.lol just came here from your other triad vid.have a great weekend man.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I moved a few months back. So this video was filmed at my old apartment. :)

[@eddieisgreat5150]

Oh, right on, i enjoy watching your vids.youre great at explaining things making it enjoyable to learn stuff.fellow Canaidian lol

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@eddieisgreat5150 thank you! I really appreciate that

[@jasond626]

Great video.. I'd of found it useful if you'd recapped all the shapes, maybe had them on the screen. As there were so many.. cheers

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Ah, shoulda done that. Thanks for watching!

[@jasond626]

@@andrewclarkeguitar cheers man.. really appreciate that.. look forward to it on the next ones. It will really help as a lot of info to take in..

[@ryanmcdonald2027]

i love to play triads as actual real chords for playing rhythm guitar. anything to do with open chords and triads i can actually play on the guitar. These are the only chords i have only been able to manage and master really. other than that i can't play chords on the guitar as i am not a real guitar player etc

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Nice! Nothing wrong with that at all ☺️

[@ryanmcdonald2027]

@@andrewclarkeguitar Good news Andrew ! i can now play simple slow lead guitar solos, simple slow lead guitar riffs and simple slow lead guitar melody lines and simple slow Lead guitar double stops and lead guitar arpegios now on the guitar !!!! :)

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@ryanmcdonald2027 That's amazing man! Great job 🙌

[@dheerojkumarkoiri3342]

Hi andrew first of all thanks for making these videos. I am playing guitar on/off for about 3 years now but never tried to learn theory just used chords and tabs but now I want to get into music writing but dont know where to start and how to conmect all this stuff together so it makes sense.Can you help me please?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks for checking out the videos. Down the road, I hope to make a comprehensive step-by-step course, but for now, I'd suggest checking out these videos in the following order. #1 - Understanding the Major Scale: kzbin.info/www/bejne/baioaaGwp9qAja8 #2 - Know The Fretboard: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnzafqaribB6oc0 #3 - Find The Chords To Any Song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZ6kfGeqh9J_m8U #4 - Find The Chords Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnqmdp2Cib2Ve9k #5 - Where Do Chords Really Come From:kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHTdkHydo7CSmLc #6 - Chord Roadmaps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/morWkGOIrZh2iqs

[@dheerojkumarkoiri3342]

@@andrewclarkeguitar Thank you🤘Keep posting more videos it helps alot.

[@kayewoodgate]

Thank you for the lesson! At 6:06, isn't it F# - not E... in the B major triad? B, D#, F#.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're correct! I totally missed that.

[@kayewoodgate]

@@andrewclarkeguitar thanks! Beginner's diligence :)

[@shinydwayne1865]

I want to. See the caged system

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Sure! Working on a video on it.

[@ezraestrada4992]

That Suhr guitar are like $4000!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Yeah, they're pricey. Took me playing for 15 years to be able to justify the purchase. Lots of other great guitars out there for much less though!

[@pasqualealba]

😲

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

🙌

[@mikeraidos]

Hi my friend,Nice lesson But For Me Is Good For People Know Even "Slowly" All The Notes Of Fretboard not only E & A ...Is Gonna Make Your Guitar Life Easier..!!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Very true! Important to learn them all.

[@lionelnwankwo8063]

He is really doing a good job but steve stine makes bar chords very elementary. I started playing bar chords from 3 weeks into learning, thanks to steve stine

[@PURPLE_SHADE_SMOOTHIE]

Like 721

[@Kevinschart]

don't just watch these videos. dedicate some time to the concepts for a week to really let them soak in.

[@jeffreyhaley991]

Must be RICH to afford all them SUHR products! Lol

[@choochoochooseyou]

How on earth are you supposed to know which notes to drop? This seems more complicated than ever!

[@havenprice]

Leave in one R,3,5. Drop the rest. You do need to know your R-3-5 in your barre chords though

[@clarkgarber5495]

Dudes hands never stop moving the whole time he’s talking. Couldn’t keep watching.

[@tb0nestk]

Super super annoying hands movements. Every single word spoken, the two hands wave & move.

[@skutty5773]

Good lesson but you're speaking too fast and there's no gap between your sentences it's very tiring trying to listen to you. You're a good teacher but here's some advice for you slow down chill out and relax man

[@starrywisdom]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're welcome!