Triads?

[RicOSoundMan]

I have been playing bass for close to 30+ years. I am just starting to learn about theory and the like. I am confused about Triads and what exactly they are. I am working in the "Building Walking Bass Lines" book by Ed Friedland.

His diagrahm shows three notes on the same measure stacked.

____________
_____O______
_____O______ <----- a rendition of C maj triad. I understand it is the Root the 3rd and 5th. I am wondering is
_____O______ are they strummed like a chord ? or just tell me what the notes are in the triad.
____________

Not sure if i am asking this correctly
Help and thanks

[jps]

Just wait till you get to 7th chords.

Yes, basic triads are built from the root, third, and fifth of a scale. I'll let the music majors over complicate things with more info.

BTW, you might want to post this in the Being For The Benefit... (music theory) section.