Guitar Triads Chart — Every Shape in Every Key

Q: How many triad shapes does the chart show?

For each key and quality, the chart shows every close-voiced triad shape up to the 12th fret: the three inversions (root position, 1st, 2nd) on each of the four three-string sets. With four qualities (major, minor, diminished, augmented) and 12 keys, the chart covers every playable close-voiced triad on the guitar.

Q: How do I read the chart?

Each group of three dots on a fretboard is one triad voicing. The color tells you the inversion: violet is root position, amber is 1st inversion, rose is 2nd inversion. The letter inside each dot is the interval: R for root, 3 or b3 for the third, and 5, b5 or #5 for the fifth.

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Keys sit in fifths order — neighbours on the dial are the closest related keys.

Quality

Root position (R in bass)1st inversion (3rd in bass)2nd inversion (5th in bass)Dot labels show intervals: R = root, 3/b3 = third, 5/b5/#5 = fifth

C major triads — all positions

Strings 1·2·3 (e · B · G)

Strings 2·3·4 (B · G · D)

Strings 3·4·5 (G · D · A)

Strings 4·5·6 (D · A · E)

C triads — full position reference

C major triad positions

C major triads on Strings 1·2·3 (e · B · G), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
2nd inversion	string 3 open, string 2 fret 1, string 1 open	G–C–E	5–R–3
Root position	string 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 5, string 1 fret 3	C–E–G	R–3–5
1st inversion	string 3 fret 9, string 2 fret 8, string 1 fret 8	E–G–C	3–5–R

C major triads on Strings 2·3·4 (B · G · D), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
1st inversion	string 4 fret 2, string 3 open, string 2 fret 1	E–G–C	3–5–R
2nd inversion	string 4 fret 5, string 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 5	G–C–E	5–R–3
Root position	string 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 9, string 2 fret 8	C–E–G	R–3–5

C major triads on Strings 3·4·5 (G · D · A), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
Root position	string 5 fret 3, string 4 fret 2, string 3 open	C–E–G	R–3–5
1st inversion	string 5 fret 7, string 4 fret 5, string 3 fret 5	E–G–C	3–5–R
2nd inversion	string 5 fret 10, string 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 9	G–C–E	5–R–3

C major triads on Strings 4·5·6 (D · A · E), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
2nd inversion	string 6 fret 3, string 5 fret 3, string 4 fret 2	G–C–E	5–R–3
Root position	string 6 fret 8, string 5 fret 7, string 4 fret 5	C–E–G	R–3–5
1st inversion	string 6 fret 12, string 5 fret 10, string 4 fret 10	E–G–C	3–5–R

C minor triad positions

C minor triads on Strings 1·2·3 (e · B · G), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
Root position	string 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 4, string 1 fret 3	C–Eb–G	R–b3–5
1st inversion	string 3 fret 8, string 2 fret 8, string 1 fret 8	Eb–G–C	b3–5–R

C minor triads on Strings 2·3·4 (B · G · D), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
1st inversion	string 4 fret 1, string 3 open, string 2 fret 1	Eb–G–C	b3–5–R
2nd inversion	string 4 fret 5, string 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 4	G–C–Eb	5–R–b3
Root position	string 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 8, string 2 fret 8	C–Eb–G	R–b3–5

C minor triads on Strings 3·4·5 (G · D · A), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
Root position	string 5 fret 3, string 4 fret 1, string 3 open	C–Eb–G	R–b3–5
1st inversion	string 5 fret 6, string 4 fret 5, string 3 fret 5	Eb–G–C	b3–5–R
2nd inversion	string 5 fret 10, string 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 8	G–C–Eb	5–R–b3

C minor triads on Strings 4·5·6 (D · A · E), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
2nd inversion	string 6 fret 3, string 5 fret 3, string 4 fret 1	G–C–Eb	5–R–b3
Root position	string 6 fret 8, string 5 fret 6, string 4 fret 5	C–Eb–G	R–b3–5
1st inversion	string 6 fret 11, string 5 fret 10, string 4 fret 10	Eb–G–C	b3–5–R

C diminished triad positions

C diminished triads on Strings 1·2·3 (e · B · G), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
Root position	string 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 4, string 1 fret 2	C–Eb–Gb	R–b3–b5
1st inversion	string 3 fret 8, string 2 fret 7, string 1 fret 8	Eb–Gb–C	b3–b5–R

C diminished triads on Strings 2·3·4 (B · G · D), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
2nd inversion	string 4 fret 4, string 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 4	Gb–C–Eb	b5–R–b3
Root position	string 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 8, string 2 fret 7	C–Eb–Gb	R–b3–b5

C diminished triads on Strings 3·4·5 (G · D · A), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
1st inversion	string 5 fret 6, string 4 fret 4, string 3 fret 5	Eb–Gb–C	b3–b5–R
2nd inversion	string 5 fret 9, string 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 8	Gb–C–Eb	b5–R–b3

C diminished triads on Strings 4·5·6 (D · A · E), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
2nd inversion	string 6 fret 2, string 5 fret 3, string 4 fret 1	Gb–C–Eb	b5–R–b3
Root position	string 6 fret 8, string 5 fret 6, string 4 fret 4	C–Eb–Gb	R–b3–b5
1st inversion	string 6 fret 11, string 5 fret 9, string 4 fret 10	Eb–Gb–C	b3–b5–R

C augmented triad positions

C augmented triads on Strings 1·2·3 (e · B · G), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
2nd inversion	string 3 fret 1, string 2 fret 1, string 1 open	Ab–C–E	#5–R–3
Root position	string 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 5, string 1 fret 4	C–E–Ab	R–3–#5
1st inversion	string 3 fret 9, string 2 fret 9, string 1 fret 8	E–Ab–C	3–#5–R

C augmented triads on Strings 2·3·4 (B · G · D), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
1st inversion	string 4 fret 2, string 3 fret 1, string 2 fret 1	E–Ab–C	3–#5–R
2nd inversion	string 4 fret 6, string 3 fret 5, string 2 fret 5	Ab–C–E	#5–R–3
Root position	string 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 9, string 2 fret 9	C–E–Ab	R–3–#5

C augmented triads on Strings 3·4·5 (G · D · A), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
Root position	string 5 fret 3, string 4 fret 2, string 3 fret 1	C–E–Ab	R–3–#5
1st inversion	string 5 fret 7, string 4 fret 6, string 3 fret 5	E–Ab–C	3–#5–R
2nd inversion	string 5 fret 11, string 4 fret 10, string 3 fret 9	Ab–C–E	#5–R–3

C augmented triads on Strings 4·5·6 (D · A · E), standard tuning
Inversion	Position	Notes (low to high)	Intervals
2nd inversion	string 6 fret 4, string 5 fret 3, string 4 fret 2	Ab–C–E	#5–R–3
Root position	string 6 fret 8, string 5 fret 7, string 4 fret 6	C–E–Ab	R–3–#5
1st inversion	string 6 fret 12, string 5 fret 11, string 4 fret 10	E–Ab–C	3–#5–R

Download PDF — C (all qualities)Download PDF — all 12 keys

All printable chart PDFs — every key, free →

How to Read This Chart

Each cluster of three dots is one complete triad. The dots sit on three adjacent strings — that's what makes these shapes compact and moveable. The color tells you the inversion: violet means the root is the lowest note (root position), amber means the third is lowest (1st inversion), and rose means the fifth is lowest (2nd inversion). The letters inside the dots are intervals relative to the chord's root: R, 3 (or b3 for minor thirds), and 5 (b5 diminished, #5 augmented).

Moving left to right on any string set, the inversions always cycle in the same order — learn that cycle once and you can find any chord anywhere. When a string set shows only two shapes, the missing inversion first becomes playable above the 12th fret, where the pattern repeats an octave higher.

How to Practice These Shapes

Reading a chart builds familiarity; recall builds fluency. A simple routine: pick one string set and one key, play the three inversions ascending, then descending, then jump between string sets while staying in one fret region. When shapes start feeling automatic, test yourself in the triads trainer — it shows you a shape to name (recognition) or names a chord you must find (recall), across every key, quality, and string set on this chart.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many triad shapes does the chart show?

For each key and quality, every close-voiced triad shape up to the 12th fret: the three inversions (root position, 1st, 2nd) on each of the four three-string sets. Across four qualities and 12 keys, that's every playable close-voiced triad on the guitar.

How do I read the chart?

Each group of three dots is one triad voicing. Violet = root position, amber = 1st inversion, rose = 2nd inversion. The letter inside each dot is the interval: R for root, 3 or b3 for the third, and 5, b5 or #5 for the fifth.

Why does a string set sometimes show only two inversions?

Because the missing inversion first becomes playable above the 12th fret on that string set — every shape repeats an octave higher. All three inversions always appear across the four string sets within the first 12 frets.

Is the PDF free, and what tuning does the chart use?

Yes — every per-key PDF and the all-keys bundle are free to download and print, no sign-up. Everything assumes standard tuning (E A D G B e).

Browse Triads by Chord

Every chord has its own page with all shapes, chord tones, and inversion positions:

Major

C Major Db Major D Major Eb Major E Major F Major F# Major G Major Ab Major A Major Bb Major B Major

Minor

C Minor C# Minor D Minor Eb Minor E Minor F Minor F# Minor G Minor G# Minor A Minor Bb Minor B Minor

Diminished

C Diminished Db Diminished D Diminished Eb Diminished E Diminished F Diminished F# Diminished G Diminished Ab Diminished A Diminished Bb Diminished B Diminished

Augmented

C Augmented Db Augmented D Augmented Eb Augmented E Augmented F Augmented F# Augmented G Augmented Ab Augmented A Augmented Bb Augmented B Augmented