Triads versus mini barre

[jimrivera]

Is there a difference between these two chord types?

[tbeltrans]

A triad is a chord that consists of three notes, usually the root, 3rd (or b3 for a minor chord), and 5th. This is true regardless of instrument, as it is a part of general music theory.

A mini barre is not a chord, but is instead a guitar technique for playing a chord on the guitar. If, with a mini barre you cover three strings, say, the first three strings, then you are fretting three notes. Since three notes constitute a triad, then presumably, if you play a mini barre, you are also playing a triad. To determine what that triad is, you have to look at the three notes to see what they are.

Often in discussions of chords, the chord would be determined in context (i.e. what came before it and what follows it), much as many English words have several meanings, depending on how they are used in a sentence.

I suspect this is now getting into probably more territory than your question needs, so I hope this answer clarifies things for you.

In short:

A triad is a basic chord in music theory, and a mini barre is a guitar technique that can play a triad.

Tony

[Wyllys]

Some nice triads to try. Play only the fretted notes, no open strings unless marked as such.

3 x 2 x 1 x

x 3 x 0 x 0 or x 3 5 x 5 x

x x 2 x 1 x 3

These are just inversions of a C-chord triad.

[FwL]

I prefer to play triads while availing myself of the mini-bar.
.
.