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Triads and Seventh Chords

What is tested

You must spell and identify major, minor, diminished and augmented triads, and the seventh chords built on them, in root position and all inversions. Distinguishing a half-diminished from a fully diminished seventh by ear and on paper is a recurring question.

Common mistakes

Half-diminished and fully diminished sevenths are mixed up because both are built on a diminished triad. The distinguishing note is the seventh: minor above the root in the half-diminished chord, diminished in the fully diminished chord.

Practice with

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Related reading

All topics in this exam