Secondary Triads: Doubling and Inversion Rules

Read through the following information, then answer the questions presented in the form below.

1. What are secondary triads?

• A secondary triad is any diatonic triad that is not I, IV, or V.
• Secondary triads are never used in second inversion.

2. Major and Minor Triads (Primary and Secondary)

• Root position chords- Double the root
• First Inversion chords- Double the root or 5th
• The exception to this is the ii chord in a minor key. It is only rarely used, and when it is used, it is in first inversion.

3. Augmented and Diminished Triads (Secondary)

• If a chord is diminished or augmented, it must be in first inversion.
• You must double the third.

4. Study the chart below.