Cycle of fifths and spread position triads

Arpeggio Fun: Enhancing Creativity and Hand Independence

So, arpeggio fun is ticking several boxes.

Creativity Challenge

First of all, it's a challenge to your creativity, having to make up different phrases using just three notes.

Hand Independence Test

Secondly, it's a test of your hand independence. You should be able to keep the left-hand chord on the beat in the same place without getting lost or being thrown off by the right hand.

Practice Without Guidance

You should try this now without me playing:

• Click on the backing track and have a go yourself.
• You can also practice this, obviously not with the backing track, but in other keys as well.

Know Your Triads

You should get to know your triads of G, D, and so on, around the cycle of fifths.

Visual Aid

Have a look at the diagram. You'll see how all 12 keys can be spaced around a clock face.

• For sharp keys: C, G, D, A
  • You're adding one sharp at a time while going up in fifths.

Expanding to Four Note Chords

Let's do the same with four-note chords. This gives you slightly more options for varying your phrases.

• For instance, in G:
  • Not just the root position triad, but the root, top, and bottom.
  • This is called a spread position triad.

Inversion Shapes

You can do this with the three inversion shapes:

• Root Position:
• First Inversion:
• Second Inversion:

Explore Inversions

Try this in a similar way to arpeggio fun:

• Practice with some chords in the left hand.
• Explore the different inversion positions.

Moving Through Keys

Then move to Triton D, the next chord in the cycle, and continue through A and all the other keys.

• Eventually, you don't have to do them all at once.
• Do one a day, for instance, and gradually learn all your major triads.