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Examples to practice spelling and identifying triads in root position and inversion from a score or from lead sheet notation.
Examples to practice spelling and identifying triads in root position and inversion from a score or from lead sheet notation.
Triad Spelling (All Root Position)
Triad Spelling (All Root Position)
On staff paper, spelling out each of the chords used in the song excerpts below.
1) Taylor Swift, “Willow,” chorus
From Evermore (2020), written by Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner
Audio: YouTube (0:38–0:51)
G D Am
The more that you say, the less I know
Em G
Wherever you stray, I follow
D Am
I'm begging for you to take my hand
Em
Wreck my plans, that's my man.
F#m
I've been California dreamin.'
C#
Plastic hearts are bleedin'
D
Keep me up all night (Keep me up).
A C#
Keep me up all night (All night)
F#m
Lost in black hole conversation.
C#
Sunrise suffocation.
D
Keep me up all night (Keep me up).
A C#
Keep me up all night.
3) Jason Mraz, “I'm Yours,” chorus
From We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things (2008)
Audio: YouTube (1:38–2:05)
B F#
But I won't hesitate
G#m
No more, no more
E
It cannot wait, I'm sure.
B F#
There's no need to complicate
G#m
Our time is short
E
This is our fate, I'm yours.
4) Rihanna, “Umbrella,” chorus
From Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), words and music Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash, Kuk Harrell, Shawn Carter
Audio: YouTube (0:56–1:18)
G♭
When the sun shines
D♭
We’ll shine together
A♭
Told you I'll be here forever
B♭m
Said I'll always be your friend
(B♭m) G♭
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end
D♭
Now that it's raining more than ever
A♭
Know that we still have each other
Bbm
You can stand under my umbrella
G♭
You can stand under my umbrella
5) Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations,” verse
From Similey Smile (1967), written by Mike Love & Brian Wilson
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:24)
E♭m D♭
I, I love the colorful clothes she wears,
C♭ B♭
And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
E♭m D♭
I hear the sound of a gentle word
C♭ B♭
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air
Triad Spelling (with Inversions)
Triad Spelling (with Inversions)
On staff paper, spelling out each of the chords used in the song excerpts below.
1) Elton John, “Tiny Dancer,” verse 1
From Madman Across the Water (1972), written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Audio: YouTube (0:13–0:26)
C F/C C F/C
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady,
C F/A G/B
seamstress for the band
C F/C C F/C
Pretty eyed, pirate smile,
C F G
you'll marry a music man
5) Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” chorus
From Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going (2024), written by Shaboozey, Jerrel Jones, Capo (Trackboyz), Mark Williams, Nevin, Sean Cook & J-Kwon
Audio: YouTube (0:48–1:12)
Harmonic Progression:
| F#m | A | D/A | A E/G#| (x4)
F#m A
Someone pour me up a double shot of whiskey
D/A A
They know me and Jack Daniels' got a
E/G#
history
F#m A
Therе's a party downtown, near 5th Street
D/A A E/G#
Everybody at the bar gеttin' tipsy
F#- A D/A A E/G#
Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy
F#- A D /A A E/G#
Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy
Triad ID (All Root Position)
Triad ID (All Root Position)
Identify the triads in the excerpts below by type and quality (where appropriate) using lead sheet notation above the staff and/or Roman numeral notation below the staff. Ignore any notes in parentheses (these notes are not part of the chords.)
1) Cat Stevens, “Morning Has Broken,” verse
From Teaser and the Firecat (1971), words written by Eleanor Farjeon, music by Cat Stevens
Directions: Label one chord per measure. Ignore the A in the fourth measure and the B-flat in the 5th measure. These are embellishing tones not part of the chord.
2) Fun, “Carry On,” chorus
From Some Nights (2012), written by Jeff Phasker, Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost, Jack Antonoff
Directions: Label one chord for each line above/below the staff. There are embellishing tones in the melody; use the piano part on the bottom two staves to determine which notes are part of each chord. Then, circle any notes in the melody that are note part of the chord.
3) Klaus Badelt, “He's a Pirate”
From the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Directions: Label one chord per measure. The third beat of each measure includes embellishing tones that are not part of the chord. Use the first two beats to determine what the chord is, then circle any notes on the third beat that are not part of the chord.
Triad ID (with Inversions)
Triad ID (with Inversions)
Identify the triads in the excerpts below by type and inversion (where appropriate) using lead sheet notation above the staff and/or Roman numeral notation below the staff.
1) Howard Shore, “Shire Theme” (from “Rivendell”)
From the film Fellowship of the Rings: Lord of the Rings (2001)
Directions: The bass staff provides the chords for the melody. Label each of these using Roman numerals and lead sheet notation. Circle any notes in the melody that are not part of the chord.
2) Everly Brothers, “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” verse
Single from (1958), written by Boudleaux Bryant
Directions: Label two chord per measure (starting on beat 1 and beat 3 in each measure). Ignore any notes in parentheses (these are not part of the chord.)
5) Fanny (Mendelssohn) Hensel, “Wanderlied,” mm. 24–32
From 6 Lieder, Op. 1 (1846), lyrics by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Directions: The brackets above each measure show where each chord changes. Label each of these chords using lead sheet notation (do not label Roman numerals). Skip over the chords that are provided for you. Ignore any notes in parentheses (these are not part of the chord.)
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