Major Triad vs Minor Triad
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.
Ukulele, tuned low to high: G, C, E, A. 12 frets.
- 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).
- C string: fret 0 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad), fret 3 Eb (flat 3), fret 4 E (3), fret 7 G (5 of C Major Triad and 5 of C Minor Triad), fret 12 C (root of C Major Triad and root of C Minor Triad).
- 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).
- 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).
Both scales above are drawn on one ukulele 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)