Chord Inversions

Lesson 2/48 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Rock Keyboard

Chord Inversions

So far you have learnt the C, F and G major chords. Because the lowest note in each of these three chords is the root note, the shape given is called the root position.

All major chords contain three different notes. These notes can be duplicated and/or played in a different shape. When the third (3) is the lowest note of the chord shape, the chord is said to be the first inversion. The diagram below illustrates the first inversion of the C major chord, which contains the notes E (3), G (5), and C (1) in that order.

C Chord (first inversion)

Do not confuse the fingering numbers on the chord diagrams with the interval numbers of the chord.

When the fifth (5) is the lowest note of the chord shape, the chord is said to be the second inversion. The diagram below illustrates the second inversion of the C major chord, which contains the notes G (5), C (1), and E (3) in that order.

C Chord (Second inversion)

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Class Sessions

1- Chord Inversions 2- Minor Chords 3- The Blues Scale 4- Eighth Note Rhythms 5- Seventh Chords 6- The Triplet 7- Sixteenth Notes 8- Intervals 9- The Major Chord 10- More About Chords and Keys 11- INTRODUCTION 12- 16th Note Studies 13- Approach to Practice 14- Swing Rhythms 15- C Chromatic Scale 16- G7 Chord Inversions 17- Riffs 18- Scale Tone Chords 19- C Minor Chord Inversions 20- Slash Chords 21- Chord Diagrams 22- C Major Chord Inversions 23- Quarter Note Rhythms 24- Creating Minor Chords 25- Minor Keys 26- Syncopation 27- Transposing 28- Listening 29- The Shuffle 30- Creating 7th Chords 31- Interval Types 32- G Major Chord Inversions 33- Basic Equipment 34- Interval Distances 35- Identifying 8th Note Rhythms 36- Seventh Chord Types 37- The G Major Chord 38- Grace Notes 39- Omitting Notes From Chords 40- F Major Chord Inversions 41- Transposing Chords 42- 12 Bar Blues 43- The F Major Chord 44- Guidelines for Using Inversions 45- Using Ties, Pedal Tones 46- Scale Tone Seventh Chords 47- Chord Substitution 48- Creating Other Chord Types

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Chord Inversions