Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

2. French Folk Song

Triads in Open and Close Position

Triads may be written in two different positions: closeor open.

• Close positionoccurs when the distance between the lowest and highest notes in a triad is less than an octave.


• Open positionoccurs when the notes exceed an octave in range. The triads in close position shown above
  are rewritten below in open position.

As we have seen with inversions, composers use triads in open and close position to vary the sound and to
assist with smooth voice leading. Notes of a triad may also be duplicated, and non-triad notes (“non-chord” or
“non-harmonic” tones) may be added to expand the “color” of a harmony.

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INVERSIONS OF TRIADS

Gm D 1st Gm Eb Cm Aº 1st

D Gm D 1st Gm Cm 1st Gm 2nd D Gm

Workbook Exercises 14.1–14.4

Triads in close position

Triads in open position