Avoid Playing Heavy 1+3+5 Chords. Use Your 3’s Sparingly.

What is a 3 and how do you use it best?

Knowing when to use and when to avoid adding the 3 note of a chord is a professional’s little secret. In this article, you’ll learn just how to use it most effectively. You’ll have a technique you can use for the rest of your playing life.

The 3 is a color note.

The 3 note colors a chord. What that means is that it defines whether a chord is major or minor. It’s the middle note of the 1+3+5 block chord (still true regardless of where it lands as an inversion-see inversions topic). Play a block 1+3+5 and then play the chord again without the 3. You’ll notice how much heavier the chord sounds with the 3 added in. As we’ll see, there are times for this heaviness, but not as often as some players use them.

The 1+5 without 3 is solid.

The 1 and 5 notes of a chord are each dominant notes. This is especially true of the 1 as it is the root note of the chord. When 1+5 (called a fifth) are played together they form the foundation and skeleton for the chord. The 3 is not necessary to make the chord sound right. Think of the 1+5 like the tree trunk and the 3 branches with beautiful leaves.

Know when to use a 3. Be intentional!

So, when should you add in the 3? Easy! When you want to color the chord. Or if you are the only player on stage and you need to cover more musical ground. Anytime you add the 3 note of a chord you are adding weight to the sound of what you are playing. I recommend adding the 3 anytime you play a 2m or 6m (see topic about numbers). Those chords require the 3 to make them minor. Whenever you play a 1, 4, or 5 chord, hold off from using the 3. Find out if only using them for the minor chords helps make the song sound lightweight until you need the thicker sound of the minor chords.

Consider include the 3 when you play 5 chords. 5’s are typically richer in nature and the 3 being used in that chord will help make the anticipation of hitting the 1 chord have more of a payoff. So if the 5 chord includes a 3 and is full and rich when you move to the 1 there will be some sonic relief as the 1 played 1+5 will land defined and secure. Kind of like landing a plane safely. Try it!

Practice makes perfect. Questions and comments?

As with other techniques, practice makes perfect. The best way to be effective with 3’s is to know when they make the chord sound heavy and when they are appropriate. Trial and error are key. What comments or questions do you have? How are you playing 3’s to make your chording awesome? Comment or question below. Let the community support one another!