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Triad Chord Flashcards: Major, Minor, Diminished & Augmented Spelling

Study 90 English flashcards: four triad-quality rules plus 43 root-position major, minor, diminished, and augmented chords in both spelling and identification directions.

By author Open Study Contributor

About this deck

Triad Chord Flashcards: Major, Minor, Diminished & Augmented Spelling

These 90 English flashcards make root-position triad spelling concrete. Four opening cards establish the quality rules. The remaining 86 cards practice 43 chords in both useful directions:

  • chord name → correctly spelled notes
  • spelled notes → chord name and quality

Exact scope

Every major and minor triad is included for C, D♭, D, E♭, E, F, F♯, G, A♭, A, B♭, and B. Diminished and augmented triads are included when correct root-position spelling needs no more than single accidentals.

The five deliberate exclusions are D♭ diminished (A𝄫), E♭ diminished (B𝄫), A♭ diminished (E𝄫), F♯ augmented (C𝄪), and B augmented (F𝄪). This keeps the practical set focused without replacing correct letter spelling with enharmonic keyboard shortcuts.

Learning order

Major, minor, diminished, and augmented construction rules come first. The chord cards then mix spelling and identification across varied roots and qualities without a short repeated quality cycle. The two directions for any one chord stay at least seven unrelated cards apart, so one prompt doesn't give away its partner.

Sources and provenance

The quality definitions and interval symbols were checked against Open Music Theory's triads chapter. The chord spellings were derived independently from those interval rules and checked letter by letter. Common chord-spelling and chord-identification tools were reviewed only to confirm that both recall directions are useful study tasks.

This is an independently authored, unofficial educational deck. It isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Open Music Theory or any commercial study tool. No source prose, competitor cards, exercise wording, visual design, logos, or trade dress were copied.

The Common knowledge · CC0 1.0 label applies to the original prompts, answers, sequence, metadata, and generated cover to the extent applicable rights exist. It doesn't claim ownership of music-theory facts, note names, interval names, or third-party material.

Cards in this deck

  1. Card 1

    Question

    How is a root-position major triad built above its root?

    Answer

    M3 + P5. The notes sit 4 and 7 semitones above the root, which stacks M3 + m3.

  2. Card 2

    Question

    How is a root-position minor triad built above its root?

    Answer

    m3 + P5. The notes sit 3 and 7 semitones above the root, which stacks m3 + M3.

  3. Card 3

    Question

    How is a root-position diminished triad built above its root?

    Answer

    m3 + d5. The notes sit 3 and 6 semitones above the root, which stacks m3 + m3.

  4. Card 4

    Question

    How is a root-position augmented triad built above its root?

    Answer

    M3 + A5. The notes sit 4 and 8 semitones above the root, which stacks M3 + M3.

  5. Card 5

    Question

    Spell the root-position B♭ diminished triad.

    Answer

    B♭–D♭–F♭. From B♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  6. Card 6

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: A♭–C–E♭.

    Answer

    A♭ major. From A♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  7. Card 7

    Question

    Spell the root-position B minor triad.

    Answer

    B–D–F♯. From B, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  8. Card 8

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: D♭–F–A♭.

    Answer

    D♭ major. From D♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  9. Card 9

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: G–B♭–D♭.

    Answer

    G diminished. From G, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  10. Card 10

    Question

    Spell the root-position F♯ minor triad.

    Answer

    F♯–A–C♯. From F♯, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  11. Card 11

    Question

    Spell the root-position B♭ major triad.

    Answer

    B♭–D–F. From B♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  12. Card 12

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: D–F♯–A♯.

    Answer

    D augmented. From D, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  13. Card 13

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: F–A–C.

    Answer

    F major. From F, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  14. Card 14

    Question

    Spell the root-position G minor triad.

    Answer

    G–B♭–D. From G, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  15. Card 15

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: E–G♯–B♯.

    Answer

    E augmented. From E, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  16. Card 16

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: B♭–D♭–F♭.

    Answer

    B♭ diminished. From B♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  17. Card 17

    Question

    Spell the root-position D♭ minor triad.

    Answer

    D♭–F♭–A♭. From D♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  18. Card 18

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: F–A♭–C♭.

    Answer

    F diminished. From F, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  19. Card 19

    Question

    Spell the root-position A major triad.

    Answer

    A–C♯–E. From A, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  20. Card 20

    Question

    Spell the root-position F♯ diminished triad.

    Answer

    F♯–A–C. From F♯, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  21. Card 21

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: D♭–F–A.

    Answer

    D♭ augmented. From D♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  22. Card 22

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: B–D–F♯.

    Answer

    B minor. From B, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  23. Card 23

    Question

    Spell the root-position E♭ augmented triad.

    Answer

    E♭–G–B. From E♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  24. Card 24

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: D–F♯–A.

    Answer

    D major. From D, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  25. Card 25

    Question

    Spell the root-position G augmented triad.

    Answer

    G–B–D♯. From G, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  26. Card 26

    Question

    Spell the root-position C minor triad.

    Answer

    C–E♭–G. From C, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  27. Card 27

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: E–G♯–B.

    Answer

    E major. From E, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  28. Card 28

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: A–C–E♭.

    Answer

    A diminished. From A, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  29. Card 29

    Question

    Spell the root-position B♭ minor triad.

    Answer

    B♭–D♭–F. From B♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  30. Card 30

    Question

    Spell the root-position A♭ major triad.

    Answer

    A♭–C–E♭. From A♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  31. Card 31

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: G–B♭–D.

    Answer

    G minor. From G, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  32. Card 32

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: E–G–B♭.

    Answer

    E diminished. From E, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  33. Card 33

    Question

    Spell the root-position C major triad.

    Answer

    C–E–G. From C, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  34. Card 34

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: A–C–E.

    Answer

    A minor. From A, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  35. Card 35

    Question

    Spell the root-position D augmented triad.

    Answer

    D–F♯–A♯. From D, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  36. Card 36

    Question

    Spell the root-position A♭ minor triad.

    Answer

    A♭–C♭–E♭. From A♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  37. Card 37

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: F♯–A♯–C♯.

    Answer

    F♯ major. From F♯, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  38. Card 38

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: C–E–G♯.

    Answer

    C augmented. From C, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  39. Card 39

    Question

    Spell the root-position E♭ major triad.

    Answer

    E♭–G–B♭. From E♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  40. Card 40

    Question

    Spell the root-position D minor triad.

    Answer

    D–F–A. From D, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  41. Card 41

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: B♭–D–F♯.

    Answer

    B♭ augmented. From B♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  42. Card 42

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: D♭–F♭–A♭.

    Answer

    D♭ minor. From D♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  43. Card 43

    Question

    Spell the root-position E major triad.

    Answer

    E–G♯–B. From E, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  44. Card 44

    Question

    Spell the root-position A diminished triad.

    Answer

    A–C–E♭. From A, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  45. Card 45

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: B–D♯–F♯.

    Answer

    B major. From B, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  46. Card 46

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: A♭–C♭–E♭.

    Answer

    A♭ minor. From A♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  47. Card 47

    Question

    Spell the root-position F♯ major triad.

    Answer

    F♯–A♯–C♯. From F♯, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  48. Card 48

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: D–F–A♭.

    Answer

    D diminished. From D, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  49. Card 49

    Question

    Spell the root-position A minor triad.

    Answer

    A–C–E. From A, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  50. Card 50

    Question

    Spell the root-position E augmented triad.

    Answer

    E–G♯–B♯. From E, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  51. Card 51

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: F♯–A–C.

    Answer

    F♯ diminished. From F♯, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  52. Card 52

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: C–E–G.

    Answer

    C major. From C, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  53. Card 53

    Question

    Spell the root-position D♭ augmented triad.

    Answer

    D♭–F–A. From D♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  54. Card 54

    Question

    Spell the root-position B major triad.

    Answer

    B–D♯–F♯. From B, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  55. Card 55

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: F–A♭–C.

    Answer

    F minor. From F, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  56. Card 56

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: E♭–G–B.

    Answer

    E♭ augmented. From E♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  57. Card 57

    Question

    Spell the root-position D♭ major triad.

    Answer

    D♭–F–A♭. From D♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  58. Card 58

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: A–C♯–E♯.

    Answer

    A augmented. From A, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  59. Card 59

    Question

    Spell the root-position G diminished triad.

    Answer

    G–B♭–D♭. From G, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  60. Card 60

    Question

    Spell the root-position B♭ augmented triad.

    Answer

    B♭–D–F♯. From B♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  61. Card 61

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: E♭–G♭–B♭.

    Answer

    E♭ minor. From E♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  62. Card 62

    Question

    Spell the root-position C augmented triad.

    Answer

    C–E–G♯. From C, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  63. Card 63

    Question

    Spell the root-position D major triad.

    Answer

    D–F♯–A. From D, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  64. Card 64

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: B♭–D♭–F.

    Answer

    B♭ minor. From B♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  65. Card 65

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: A–C♯–E.

    Answer

    A major. From A, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  66. Card 66

    Question

    Spell the root-position E diminished triad.

    Answer

    E–G–B♭. From E, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  67. Card 67

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: F–A–C♯.

    Answer

    F augmented. From F, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  68. Card 68

    Question

    Spell the root-position B diminished triad.

    Answer

    B–D–F. From B, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  69. Card 69

    Question

    Spell the root-position G major triad.

    Answer

    G–B–D. From G, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  70. Card 70

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: C–E♭–G.

    Answer

    C minor. From C, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  71. Card 71

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: B♭–D–F.

    Answer

    B♭ major. From B♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  72. Card 72

    Question

    Spell the root-position F diminished triad.

    Answer

    F–A♭–C♭. From F, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  73. Card 73

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: G–B–D♯.

    Answer

    G augmented. From G, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  74. Card 74

    Question

    Spell the root-position E♭ minor triad.

    Answer

    E♭–G♭–B♭. From E♭, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  75. Card 75

    Question

    Spell the root-position D diminished triad.

    Answer

    D–F–A♭. From D, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  76. Card 76

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: E–G–B.

    Answer

    E minor. From E, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  77. Card 77

    Question

    Spell the root-position A♭ augmented triad.

    Answer

    A♭–C–E. From A♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  78. Card 78

    Question

    Spell the root-position F minor triad.

    Answer

    F–A♭–C. From F, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  79. Card 79

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: G–B–D.

    Answer

    G major. From G, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  80. Card 80

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: D–F–A.

    Answer

    D minor. From D, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  81. Card 81

    Question

    Spell the root-position C diminished triad.

    Answer

    C–E♭–G♭. From C, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  82. Card 82

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: E♭–G–B♭.

    Answer

    E♭ major. From E♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  83. Card 83

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: F♯–A–C♯.

    Answer

    F♯ minor. From F♯, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  84. Card 84

    Question

    Spell the root-position A augmented triad.

    Answer

    A–C♯–E♯. From A, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  85. Card 85

    Question

    Spell the root-position F major triad.

    Answer

    F–A–C. From F, the third is a major third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  86. Card 86

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: A♭–C–E.

    Answer

    A♭ augmented. From A♭, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

  87. Card 87

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: B–D–F.

    Answer

    B diminished. From B, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  88. Card 88

    Question

    Spell the root-position E minor triad.

    Answer

    E–G–B. From E, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a perfect fifth.

  89. Card 89

    Question

    Name the root-position triad: C–E♭–G♭.

    Answer

    C diminished. From C, the third is a minor third and the fifth is a diminished fifth.

  90. Card 90

    Question

    Spell the root-position F augmented triad.

    Answer

    F–A–C♯. From F, the third is a major third and the fifth is an augmented fifth.

Three navy, coral, and ochre note-like discs stacked vertically over subtle staff-like lines and muted geometric accents.

90 cards

Triad Chord Flashcards: Major, Minor, Diminished & Augmented Spelling

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