# Triad shapes on the bass

*Module 7 · Lesson 5: Triads and arpeggios · BazzLow*

> Play every triad type as a movable shape from roots on the E and A strings.

Before this lesson: [7.3 Diminished and augmented triads](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/diminished-and-augmented-triads/) · [4.3 Interval shapes on the bass](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/interval-shapes/)

Triads on the bass are interval shapes from lesson 4.3, joined together. Learn four shapes and you can play any triad in any key.

## The four shapes

From a root at fret *f*, the notes of each triad are at these places:

*Triad shapes for a root at fret f.*

| Triad | 3rd | 5th | Octave |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Major | next string, f−1 | next string, f+2 | two strings up, f+2 |
| Minor | next string, f−2 | next string, f+2 | two strings up, f+2 |
| Diminished | next string, f−2 | next string, f+1 | two strings up, f+2 |
| Augmented | next string, f−1 | next string, f+3 | two strings up, f+2 |

> **Diagram:** C: C E G.

> **Diagram:** Cm: C E♭ G.

> **Diagram:** C°: C E♭ G♭.

> **Diagram:** C+: C E G♯.

## The extended shape

An extended shape adds the **5th below** the root: the same fret, one string lower. This gives 5–1–3–5 in one position, the most used arpeggio area on the bass.

> **Diagram:** The 5–1–3–5 shape of C: G on the E string (fret 3), C on the A string (fret 3), E on the D string (fret 2), G on the D string (fret 5).

## Moving them

These shapes are movable: put the root on the right note and you have the chord in any key. A root on the E string covers roots from F (fret 1) to E (fret 12). A root on the A string covers B♭ to A. The Chords for Bass tool shows every triad from every root in a 5-fret window, with the same color coding.

## Try it

Play major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios with the root at fret 5 on the E string (A), then at fret 5 on the A string (D). Say “1 3 5 8” (or ♭3, ♭5, ♯5) as you play.

## New terms

- triad shape
- arpeggio shape

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/triad-shapes/