Shred Your Solo with Descending Triads

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This Tutorial titled, "Descending Triads" shows the theory and keyboard technique required to perform this all-purpose keyboard Riff that you can use for solos or critical parts. I have provided two different rhythmic "settings" that you can use; one that has a 6/8 triplet feel and one with a “straight” rhythmic Feel. Download the free Graphic Guides to the Descending Triads Riff:
Go to the Downloads page and look for the two files for Descending Triads.

This tutorial is in the key of A minor to avoid sharps or flats - - and so that ALL of the notes can be played on the white keys. I call this RIFF, "Descending Triads" because it uses Broken Triads that are DESCENDING …ONE scale step at a time. Each Broken Triad will use the 5-3-1 finger pattern.
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The first example illustrates the “Triplet Feel” in a 4/4 measure that uses FOUR sets of Triplets - each one a descending triad - for a total of twelve notes. The first triplet, an A minor Triad would be played as E - C - A, The NEXT triad in the descending RIFF is G Major, played as D - B - G, the third one after that is an F Major triad: C - A - F, and the fourth one is an E minor triad: B - G - E. Obviously, these four triads are ALL part of the A minor scale.

During a solo, this Descending TRIPLET pattern could be used over the course of 3 or 4 measures for an extended effect. That repetition might be exactly what your keyboard part needs… OR…you may find more use from a shorter run of this descending pattern - - maybe covering just 1 to 2 measures which would sound like this: (DEMO a shorter series)
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The SECOND example of this Riff is notated with “STRAIGHT” eighth notes - - there are NO triplets in this version. This rhythmic structure constrains the broken triad pattern to only EIGHT eighth-notes in a 4/4 measure. Therefore, instead of endless repeating TRIADS, this “STRAIGHT” version of the RIFF uses a repeating pattern of TWO consecutive triads followed by a PARTIAL triad that uses just the first TWO notes of that third triad. This gives us a total of EIGHT notes. Notice that THIS pattern has a very different rhythmic feel, AND that this 3 + 3 + 2 pattern - if played with eighth notes - allows each subsequent measure to start at the beginning of this “STRAIGHT” pattern. For musical purposes you can use this pattern over multiple measures for that same cascading effect that we hear with the repeating triplets - - OR you can use it for a single measure as a short motif during a part or a solo. As you might have realized, this “STRAIGHT” eighth-note pattern is more challenging than the repeating triplets. Keeping track of this more complex 3 + 3 + 2 structure takes some time to get used to.

Using this riff in STRAIGHT or TRIPLET form will give you tons of new ways to add excitement to a keyboard part or a keyboard solo in almost any style of music. Just start playing around with it, start slow and use simple keys like A minor, E minor, G Major, or C Major. You’ll be surprised how quickly it becomes part of your own collection of keyboard RIFFS.

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