Major Triad vs Minor Triad on Bass
The C major triad and the C minor triad share 2 notes — C, G. From there, the C major triad adds E, while the C minor triad adds Eb.
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (3), fret 3 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad), fret 8 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad), fret 11 Eb (flat 3), fret 12 E (3), fret 15 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad), fret 20 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad), fret 23 Eb (flat 3), fret 24 E (3).
- A string: fret 3 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad), fret 6 Eb (flat 3), fret 7 E (3), fret 10 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad), fret 15 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad), fret 18 Eb (flat 3), fret 19 E (3), fret 22 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad).
- D string: fret 1 Eb (flat 3), fret 2 E (3), fret 5 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad), fret 10 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad), fret 13 Eb (flat 3), fret 14 E (3), fret 17 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad), fret 22 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad).
- G string: fret 0 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad), fret 5 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad), fret 8 Eb (flat 3), fret 9 E (3), fret 12 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad), fret 17 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad), fret 20 Eb (flat 3), fret 21 E (3), fret 24 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Both scales above are drawn on one bass fretboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Major Triad | R · 3 · 5 |
| Minor Triad | R · b3 · 5 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Major Triad | In Minor Triad |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| G | 5 | 5 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the major triad: E (3)
- Only in the minor triad: Eb (b3)