Recognize triads written on the staff and knock down the pins. Each frame shows a three-note chord: with the first ball you name its position (root position, 1st inversion or 2nd inversion) and with the second its type (major, minor, diminished or augmented triad). Every correct answer knocks down 5 pins, and if you get both right it is a strike. Speed does not score here, only accuracy. You need no microphone and nothing to install, and you can play alone or in a group, taking turns.
How to play
- Say how many players you are and choose the level: Easy, Medium or Hard. If several of you play, type each player’s name and pick your musicians.
- First ball: the position. Look at the lowest note of the chord and press whether it is in root position, 1st inversion or 2nd inversion.
- Second ball: the type. With the same chord, press whether it is a major, minor, diminished or augmented triad.
- Each correct answer knocks down 5 pins. If you miss, or time runs out on that ball, the ball goes into the gutter.
- Complete the 5 frames. In a group, each player plays a whole frame and then passes the turn on, as in a real bowling alley. The score sheet above the lane keeps count.
How scoring works
Scoring follows the logic of real bowling, adapted to two questions per frame:
| In the frame | Pins | Frame points |
|---|---|---|
| You miss both balls | 0 | 0 |
| You get one of the two right | 5 | 5 |
| You get both right (strike, X) | 10 | 10 + the pins of the next two balls |
That is why chaining strikes pays off: a strike followed by another is worth 20 points. If the fifth frame is a strike, you get two extra balls with a new chord, which only count to complete that bonus. The maximum, all strikes, is 100 points. Answering fast earns no extra points: the time for each ball (20 s on Easy, 15 s on Medium and 12 s on Hard) is only there so the game does not drag on.
The chords at each level
The chords come from the same engine as the triads in all positions exercises, always written in close position, from the bottom up:
- Easy: major and minor triads, in treble clef, with at most one accidental on each note.
- Medium: the augmented and diminished triads are added.
- Hard: all four types with up to two accidentals per note, and half of the chords in bass clef.
The trick for both balls: the position is told by the bass. Arrange the three notes in thirds, like a tower: the note at the bottom of the tower is the root. If the chord already has the root at the bottom, it is in root position; if the 3rd is at the bottom, it is in 1st inversion; if the 5th is, it is in 2nd inversion. And once the tower is in order, the type comes from its two thirds. It is explained step by step in the page on triads.
What this game is for
Knowing at a glance which chord is in front of you and what position it is in is the basis of harmonic analysis, of chord symbols and of the chord dictation you are asked for at a conservatory. This game turns it into a quick routine: one chord, two decisions. If you prefer to practice without a scoreboard, there are the chord exercises, with printable PDF worksheets. And if you like games, also try Darts (intervals) and Basketball (scales).
Frequently Asked Questions
Would you rather build the chords yourself? In Billiards, each ball carries a chord and, to pocket it, you have to write its notes on the staff.