This lesson is part of my guitar triads series.
Triads are three-note chords, and they’re everywhere on the guitar—even if you don’t realize it. That common six-string G chord (320003) you’ve played a thousand times? It’s still just three notes: G, B, and D. The other strings are just duplicates in different octaves.
When you strip away the duplicates and play those same three notes on just strings 1, 2, and 3, you get moveable triad shapes that open up the entire fretboard. Today we’re focusing on E-shaped triads—the ones where the root note sits on the 1st string.
Understanding E-Shaped Triads
Think of your E major chord shape, then bar it at the third fret (355433). That gives you G major. Now focus only on the top three strings: xxx433.
That’s a G major triad—same three notes as the full chord, just cleaner and more mobile.
The key to moving this shape around is the root note on the 1st string, 3rd fret. That’s your G. Move that root note to the 8th fret (1st string) and you get C major. Move it to the 10th fret and you get D major.
Major shape: 3rd string (one fret higher), then 1st and 2nd strings barred together
Minor Triads: The A Minor Shape
For minor triads, think of your open E minor chord moved to the 5th fret (577555). That’s A minor. Now isolate the top three strings: xxx555.
This minor shape is even simpler—just bar three strings straight across. The root note is still on the 1st string, so moving this shape is straightforward. At the 7th fret, you get B minor. At the 12th fret, you get E minor.
The Complete Chord Scale in G Major
Using these two shapes (major and minor), you can play every chord in the key of G major on just the top three strings:
- G major: xxx433 (root at 3rd fret)
- A minor: xxx555 (root at 5th fret)
- B minor: xxx777 (root at 7th fret)
- C major: xxx988 (root at 8th fret)
- D major: xxx(10)(10)10 (root at 10th fret)
- E minor: xxx(12)(12)(12) (root at 12th fret)
- F# diminished: xxx212 (root at 2nd fret)
If you need a refresher on how these chords relate to each other in a key, check out my Unlocking I IV V course—it gives you the theory foundation that makes all of this make sense.
F# Diminished: The Secret Weapon
That F# diminished chord deserves special attention. Here’s the fingering: 4th string 1st fret, 3rd string 2nd fret, 2nd string 1st fret, 1st string 2nd fret. On just the top three strings, that’s xxx212.
Here’s what makes diminished chords unique: you can move them up or down three frets anywhere on the fretboard, and they become another inversion of themselves. It’s always the same chord—just rearranged.
So you can play F# diminished, move up 3 frets (same chord), move down 3 frets, down 3 more, and you’re cycling through inversions. This leads beautifully into your G major tonic.
That’s exactly the lick I played in the intro to the video—diminished shapes moving in 3-fret intervals, then resolving to G major.
String Combinations: Getting Creative
You don’t have to play all three strings at once. Pull out different string combinations for variety:
- Strings 1 and 3: Skip the middle string for an open, intervallic sound
- Strings 2 and 3: Fuller tone, great for rhythm work
- Strings 1 and 2: Bright and cutting, perfect for lead lines
You hear this kind of playing all the time in rock, country, and blues. It’s a way to add movement and color without playing full chords.
How to Practice These Shapes
Start by playing through the chord scale in G major (listed above). Get comfortable finding each shape and moving between them smoothly.
Then experiment:
- Pick a string combination (like strings 1 and 3) and play through the progression using just those two strings
- Try the diminished trick—play F# dim, move up 3 frets, move down 3 frets repeatedly, then resolve to G
- Move everything to a different key—the same shapes work in any key once you understand the root note on the 1st string
Beyond the Basics
We’ve just scratched the surface here. There are even more triad shapes on strings 1-3 using root notes from the other strings (which I cover in my D-shaped triads lesson). And of course, there are loads of shapes across the entire fretboard.
If you want to dive deep into triads and how to use them in solos, comping, and rhythm playing, check out my Secrets of Tasty Riffs & Solos course. We dig into triads extensively there.
Questions about E-shaped triads? Drop a comment below!
