When identifying and singing Triads by ear, it helps to remember the intervals that make up a specific triad.
The following chart is a review of the intervals that make up each Root Position triad.
For a more complete review of Triads go to Understanding Triads.
For help on singing 3rds see How to Hear Thirds.
The following chart displays the intervals that make up each 1st Inversion triad. All close position 1st inversion chords are made of a 3rd on the bottom and a 4th on the top.
The following chart displays the intervals that make up each 2nd Inversion triad. All close position 2nd inversion chords are made of a 4th on the bottom and a 3rd on the top.
Augmented Triads have the unique quality of sounding the same in every inversion. It is impossible to tell the inversion of an augmented triad by ear.
To identify a triad by ear, listen carefully to the bottom and top interval to see what type of 3rds and 4ths make up the triad and in what order from top to bottom.
To sing a triad, you will need to be able to sing the correct type of 3rd or 4th for the bottom and top intervals. Here is where all of your practice with intervals will become very important, especially the intervals of a 3rd and 4th. To do these exercises you will need to have a firm grasp on hearing and singing major and minor 3rds.
Because singing inverted triads is so difficult, we will wait until the next level to sing inverted traids. At this level you will only need to sing all qualities of Root Position triads