What is a chord?
A Chord is a group of three or more notes played together. Three note chords are called Triads. These basic triads are fundamental building blocks of harmony.

The first note of the triad is called the Root Note (1). The root note is also what gives the chord its name. The middle note of the triad is called the Third (3). This is the the note that gives the chord its flavor and makes the chord major or minor. The last note of the chord is called the Fifth (5).

For example, a G Major chord contains three notes: G-B-D
G is the root, B is the third, and D is the fifth.

Need more help with this? Check out: Build Chords from Scales lesson.

Major Triads on Guitar
There are lots of ways to play triads on guitar and ukulele. They can be played up and down the guitar neck on any three adjacent strings. Today we’re going to focus on the top three strings. Here there are only three ways to play a basic major triad.

Note: The numbers in circles represent which fingers you’ll use to play the triad:
Index(1) Middle(2) Ring(3) Pinky(4)

Root on Third String
The first chord shape plays the triad in order R-3rd-5th with the root on the third string.

Root on Second String
The next chord shape plays the triad with the root on the second string. The 3rd is still above the root, but the fifth has moved to the lowest spot in this string set.

Root on First String
The last chord shape plays the triad with the root on the first string. Now the 3rd how been moved to the lowest spot in this string set and the fifth has moved up to the second string.

Minor Triads on Guitar
You can transform a chord into a minor sound by lowering the middle note of your triad. This lowered third changes the quality of the chord. The root and the fifth remain the same. For example, a G minor chord contains three notes: G-Bb-D. The root and fifth are the same, G and D respectively. But the third has been lowered to Bb [pronounced “B flat”] so it has a minor sound.

To play minor triads we only have to change one note in each chord shape that we have already learned. Again we can think of the three shapes we used to play the major chords, just altered. Here are the three ways to play a basic minor triads.
Root on Third String
The first chord shape plays the triad in order R-3rd-5th with the root on the third string.

Root on Second String
The next chord shape plays the triad with the root on the second string. The 3rd is still above the root, but the fifth has moved to the lowest spot in this string set.

Root on First String
The last chord shape plays the triad with the root on the first string. Now the 3rd how been moved to the lowest spot in this string set and the fifth has moved up to the second string.