These three diagrams illustrate the root position (1 3 5), first inversion (3 5 1), and second inversion (5 1 3) of the G chord.
Name the following inversions.
All chord types can be inverted. The following example uses the root position, first inversion, second inversion, and an octave of the root position of the C minor chord.
Here is a keyboard part making use of the first inversion of the C minor chord (Eb G C). The use of the inversion allows the root note to become the highest note in the chord.
One of the reasons inversions are so useful is that they enable you to find chord shapes which are close together on instruments such as keyboard or guitar. Here the C chord appears in root position, the F chord is in second inversion and the G chord is in first inversion. The left hand plays the root note of each chord. When you play inversions which are close together, the chord changes sound smoother and often contain common tones, e.g. the chords C and F both contain the note C.