The Complete Fretboard Triad Tablature Directory: All Inversions Across Every 3-String Set

10-minute read
Dhruvik Donga
Guitar Fundamentals • Reference Guides
Guitar • Tablature • Triads • Inversions • Cheat-Sheet • Music-Theory

This visual directory provides diagrams for all standard 3-note triads across the three primary string sets:

  • Lower Set: Strings 5–4–3 (A–D–G)
  • Middle Set: Strings 4–3–2 (D–G–B)
  • Top Set: Strings 3–2–1 (G–B–e)

Learn deep in triad inversion blog Link to heading

1. Quick Reference: Fret Formula Cheat Sheet Link to heading

String SetInversion TypeMajor Shape FormulaMinor Shape FormulaRoot Note Anchor (R)
Top Set (3–2–1: G–B–e)Root PositionFret R / R+1 / R-1Fret R / R-1 / R-2G string (Fret R)
1st InversionFret R+2 / R+1 / R+1Fret R+1 / R+1 / R+1high e string (Fret R)
2nd InversionFret R-1 / R / R-1Fret R-1 / R / R-2B string (Fret R)
Mid Set (4–3–2: D–G–B)Root PositionFret R / R-1 / R-2Fret R / R-2 / R-2D string (Fret R)
1st InversionFret R+1 / R-1 / RFret R+1 / R-2 / RB string (Fret R)
2nd InversionFret R / R / R (Barre)Fret R+1 / R / R-1G string (Fret R)
Lower Set (5–4–3: A–D–G)Root PositionFret R / R-1 / R-3Fret R / R-2 / R-3A string (Fret R)
1st InversionFret R+2 / R / RFret R+1 / R / RG string (Fret R)
2nd InversionFret R / R / R-1Fret R / R-1 / R-2D string (Fret R)

2. A Major & A Minor (Notes: A – C# – E / A – C – E) Link to heading

A Major Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

A Major Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
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e
✕
B
✕
G
A
C#
E
D
E
A
A
A
C#
E
E
✕
A Major Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O1234567891011
e
✕
B
C#
E
A
G
A
C#
E
D
E
A
C#
A
✕
E
✕
A Major Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O12345678910
e
E
A
C#
B
C#
E
A
G
A
C#
E
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

A Minor Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

A Minor Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O123456789
e
✕
B
✕
G
A
C
E
D
E
A
A
A
C
E
E
✕
A Minor Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
C
E
A
G
A
C
E
D
E
A
C
A
✕
E
✕
A Minor Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O12345678910
e
E
A
C
B
C
E
A
G
A
C
E
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

3. E Major & E Minor (Notes: E – G# – B / E – G – B) Link to heading

E Major Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

E Major Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O123456789
e
✕
B
✕
G
G#
B
E
D
E
G#
B
A
B
E
E
✕
E Major Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O123456789
e
✕
B
B
E
G#
G
G#
B
E
D
E
G#
B
A
✕
E
✕
E Major Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O123456789101112
e
E
G#
B
E
B
B
E
G#
B
G
G#
B
E
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

E Minor Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

E Minor Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
✕
G
G
B
E
D
E
G
B
A
B
E
G
E
✕
E Minor Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O123456789
e
✕
B
B
E
G
G
G
B
E
D
E
G
B
A
✕
E
✕
E Minor Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O123456789101112
e
E
G
B
E
B
B
E
G
B
G
G
B
E
G
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

4. C Major & C Minor (Notes: C – E – G / C – D# – G) Link to heading

C Major Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

C Major Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
✕
G
G
C
E
D
E
G
C
A
C
E
G
E
✕
C Major Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
C
E
G
G
G
C
E
D
E
G
C
A
✕
E
✕
C Major Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O12345678910111213
e
E
G
C
E
B
C
E
G
C
G
G
C
E
G
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

C Minor Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

C Minor Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
✕
G
G
C
D#
D
D#
G
C
A
C
D#
G
E
✕
C Minor Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
C
D#
G
G
G
C
D#
D
D#
G
C
A
✕
E
✕
C Minor Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O12345678910111213
e
G
C
D#
B
D#
G
C
G
C
D#
G
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

5. D Major & D Minor (Notes: D – F# – A / D – F – A) Link to heading

D Major Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

D Major Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O123456789
e
✕
B
✕
G
A
D
D
D
F#
A
A
A
D
F#
E
✕
D Major Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O1234567
e
✕
B
D
F#
G
A
D
D
D
F#
A
A
✕
E
✕
D Major Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O1234567891011
e
F#
A
D
B
D
F#
A
G
A
D
F#
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

D Minor Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

D Minor Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O12345678
e
✕
B
✕
G
A
D
D
D
F
A
A
A
D
F
E
✕
D Minor Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O1234567
e
✕
B
D
F
G
A
D
D
D
F
A
A
✕
E
✕
D Minor Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O12345678910
e
F
A
D
B
D
F
A
G
A
D
F
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

6. F Major & F Minor (Notes: F – A – C / F – G# – C) Link to heading

F Major Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

F Major Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
✕
G
A
C
F
D
F
A
C
A
C
F
E
✕
F Major Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
C
F
A
G
A
C
F
D
F
A
C
A
✕
E
✕
F Major Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O12345678910
e
F
A
C
B
C
F
A
G
A
C
F
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

F Minor Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

F Minor Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
✕
G
G#
C
F
D
F
G#
C
A
C
F
E
✕
F Minor Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O12345678910
e
✕
B
C
F
G#
G
G#
C
F
D
F
G#
C
A
✕
E
✕
F Minor Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O12345678910
e
F
G#
C
B
C
F
G#
G
G#
C
F
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

7. B Major & B Minor (Notes: B – D# – F# / B – D – F#) Link to heading

B Major Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

B Major Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O123456789
e
✕
B
✕
G
B
D#
D
F#
B
A
B
D#
F#
E
✕
B Major Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O123456789
e
✕
B
B
D#
F#
G
B
D#
D
D#
F#
B
A
✕
E
✕
B Major Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O123456789101112
e
F#
B
D#
B
D#
F#
B
G
B
D#
F#
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

B Minor Triads (Lower, Mid, Top Sets) Link to heading

B Minor Triads — Lower String Set 5-4-3 (A-D-G)
O123456789
e
✕
B
✕
G
B
D
D
F#
B
A
B
D
F#
E
✕
B Minor Triads — Middle String Set 4-3-2 (D-G-B)
O123456789
e
✕
B
B
D
F#
G
B
D
D
D
F#
B
A
✕
E
✕
B Minor Triads — Top String Set 3-2-1 (G-B-e)
O123456789101112
e
F#
B
D
B
D
F#
B
G
B
D
F#
D
✕
A
✕
E
✕

8. Master Summary Table (All 12 Chords Across All 3 Sets) Link to heading

ChordNotesStrings 5–4–3 (A-D-G) [Root / 1st / 2nd]Strings 4–3–2 (D-G-B) [Root / 1st / 2nd]Strings 3–2–1 (G-B-e) [Root / 1st / 2nd]
A MajorA – C# – E0-2-2 / 4-7-6 / 7-7-92-2-2 / 7-6-5 / 11-9-102-2-0 / 6-5-5 / 9-10-9
A MinorA – C – E0-2-2 / 3-7-5 / 7-7-92-2-1 / 7-5-5 / 10-9-102-1-0 / 5-5-5 / 9-10-8
E MajorE – G# – B2-2-1 / 7-6-4 / 7-9-92-1-0 / 6-4-5 / 9-9-94-5-4 / 9-9-7 / 13-12-12
E MinorE – G – B2-2-0 / 7-5-4 / 10-9-92-0-0 / 5-4-5 / 9-9-80-0-0 / 9-8-7 / 4-5-3
C MajorC – E – G3-2-0 / 7-5-5 / 10-10-910-9-8 / 2-0-1 / 5-5-55-5-3 / 9-8-8 / 0-1-0
C MinorC – D# – G3-1-0 / 6-5-5 / 10-10-810-8-8 / 1-0-1 / 5-5-45-4-3 / 8-8-8 / 12-13-11
D MajorD – F# – A5-4-2 / 9-7-7 / 0-0-20-2-3 / 4-2-3 / 7-7-77-7-5 / 11-10-10 / 2-3-2
D MinorD – F – A5-3-2 / 8-7-7 / 0-0-20-2-3 / 3-2-3 / 7-7-67-6-5 / 10-10-10 / 2-3-1
F MajorF – A – C3-3-2 / 8-7-5 / 8-10-103-2-1 / 7-5-6 / 10-10-102-1-1 / 5-6-5 / 10-10-8
F MinorF – G# – C3-3-1 / 8-6-5 / 8-10-103-1-1 / 6-5-6 / 10-10-91-1-1 / 5-6-4 / 10-9-8
B MajorB – D# – F#2-4-4 / 6-9-8 / 9-9-114-4-0 / 9-8-7 / 1-4-44-4-2 / 8-7-7 / 11-12-11
B MinorB – D – F#2-4-4 / 5-9-7 / 9-9-114-4-0 / 9-7-7 / 0-4-34-3-2 / 7-7-7 / 11-12-10