Music triad help - theory question?

memorize the sharps and flats of a given key and have them ready by hand

when you see a chord, think of all the sharps/flats that should be there.

if the middle note is ONE half step too low, it is minor

if both the middle and top notes are one half step too low, it is diminished.

also, diminished chords often look much different from the original chord.

some useful tips, and good luck!

I think here's how it goes...

Example:

Major = CEG

Minor = C E-flat G

Diminished = C E-flat G-flat

So instead of a regular fifth interval (C and G), it's a flat fifth, making it C and G-flat.

Also, just try to remember how they sound in your head -- that helps a lot!

Good luck!