INVERTING CHORDS

INVERTING CHORDS
The triads
The triads and
and 7th
7th chords
chords wewe have
have examined
examinedso sofar
farare
arecalled
calledroot
rootposition
positionchords
chordsbecause thethe
because root of
the chord
root of theischord
the lowest note. We
is the lowest callWe
note. thecall
bottom note thenote
the bottom bassthe
note.
bassBut the But
note. bassthe
note of note
bass a chord
of and
the root note of a chord are not always the same thing.
a chord and the root note of a chord are not always the same thing.
When we
When we invert
invert aa chord
chord (just
(just like
like when
when we
we inverted
inverted intervals),
intervals), we
we re-arrange
re-arrange the
the order
orderofofthe
thenotes
whilewhile
notes not actually changing
not actually the notes
changing themselves.
the notes A step-by-step
themselves. approach
A step-by-step to thistoprocess
approach looks like
this process
this:
looks like this:

Term Triad 7th Chord

Root The root

Position is in the bass

The root moves

First to the top (inverts),
Inversion leaving the 3rd of the
chord in the bass

The process repeats:

Second the bass note (the 3rd)
Inversion moves to the top, leaving
the 5th as the new bass note

Third (only for The process repeats:

now the 7th of the chord
Inversion 7th chords) is in the bass

Note: all these inversions are in closed position, meaning that there is never more than an
octave between the lowest and highest note.
In listening to these different inversions, notice that while there is something different-sounding
In listening
about to thesethey
each chord, different inversions,
moreover notice
sound the same.that Itwhile
is as there is something
if each inversion isdifferent-sounding
just a different hue of
about each chord, they moreover sound the same. It is as if each inversion
the same color. In music theory terms, the same notes in any order or arrangement is merely a different
will always make
hue
the same harmony, although each unique arrangement of the notes will have its own,will
of the same color. In music theory terms, the same notes in any order or arrangement unique
always
harmonicmake the same harmony (since harmony is not defined by the vertical order of the notes),
"hue".
although each unique arrangement of the notes will have its own, unique harmonic "hue".

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 FIGURED BASS NOTATION I
FIGURED BASS NOTATION I
FIGURED BASS NOTATION
Figured bass notation uses numbers to describe the inversion of a triad or 7th chord. While we have
already
Figured acquired
Figuredbass a logical
bassnotation
notation set of names
usesnumbers
uses numbers for describing
to describe
to the all the
the inversion
inversion ofofapossible
atriad inversions
triadoror7th
7thchord. of While
chords
chord.While we we(root
have
position,
already
have 1st
already inversion,
acquired
acquired 2nd
a logical inversion,
set set
a logical of namesand
of names 3rd inversion
for for
describing in
describing 7th
all all chord
the the cases),
possible the
inversions
possible numeric
inversions system
of chords of
(root
of chords
figured
(root bass
position, 1stisinversion,
position, much
1st more
2nd concise
inversion, inversion,and andscientific.
2nd inversion, 3rdand 3rd The
inversion innumbers
7th chord
inversion incases),
in 7th figured
chordthe bass notation
numeric
cases), referof to
system
the numeric
harmonic intervals
bass is above
much the
more bass note
concise of
and any chord
scientific. in any
The inversion.
system of figured bass is much more concise and scientific. The numbers in figured bass to
figured numbers in figured bass notation refer
harmonic
notation intervals
refer above the
to harmonic bass note
intervals above of any
the chord in any
bass note of inversion.
any chord in any closed inversion.
The three
Thenotes
three of notes
a triadof form two different
a triad form two intervals
differentabove the bass
intervals note. the
above Thesebassintervals
note. change
These as
intervals change as the inversion of the triad changes. (We will forgo the major or minor as
The
the three
inversion notes
of of
the a triad
triad form
changes. two different intervals above the bass note. These intervals change
the inversion of the triad changes.
qualities of the intervals since those are inherently defined by the governing scale).

Root pos. 1st inv. 2nd inv.

Root pos. 1st inv. 2nd inv.
triad triad triad
triad triad triad
The
Thesame idea
sameidea holds
ideaholds true
holdstrue for
truefor 7th
for7th chords,
7thchords, except
chords,except there
except there is
there is one
is one additional
one additional interval since
additional interval since there
thereisisone
one
The same
additional interval since there is one
additionalnote.
note.
additional note.

Root
Rootpos.
pos. 1st
1stinv.
inv. 2nd inv. 3rdinv.
3rd inv.
7th
7thchord
chord 7th
7thchord
chord 7th chord 7thchord
7th chord

By vertically listing the intervals above the bass note of a chord from bottom to top, we thereby
know the chord’s inversion, if any. This chart lists all the inversions and intervals as we would
seeBythem in figured
vertically bass
listing thenotation:
intervalsabove
above the
the bass
bass note
note of
of aa chord
chord from
By vertically listing the intervals from bottom
bottom to
to top,
top, we
we thereby
thereby
know the chord’s inversion,
know the chord’s inversion, if any.if any.
Triad 7th Chord
Fig. Bass
Inversionwe would
This chart lists all the inversions Fig.
inBass
figuredBass
bassNote
This chart lists all the inversions asaswe see them
would see them in notation.
7figured bass notation.
Root 5
5 Root in bass
3
3

6 6
1st 3 5 3rd in bass
3
6
2nd 6 5th in bass
4
4
3
6
3rd N/A 4 7th in bass
2

7
Root position: V
6
741st inversion: V5
4
2nd inversion: V3
4
 FIGURED BASS NOTATION II
This chart is a simplified versionFIGURED
of the sameBASS NOTATION II
figured bass notation. It eliminates any
unnecessary numbers. This is the notation that we actually use.

This chart is a simplified version of the same figured bass notation. It eliminates any unnecessary
numbers. This is the notation that we actually use.
Triad 7th Chord
Inversion Fig. Bass Fig Bass Bass Note

Root (no numbers) 7 Root

6 6
1st 5 3rd

6 4
2nd 3
5th
4

4
3rd N/A 2 7th
Inversion Triad 7th Chord Bass Note
5 7
Root 5 Root in bass
3
3
These numbers would be superscript 6 6 right of the Roman numeral. For example, if we
and to the
wereThese
tryingnumbers1st
to describe a Vbetriad
would in
3 its three
supercase and topossible
the
3rd in bass
5 rightinversions,
of the chordit symbol.
would look
For like so: if we were
example,
3
trying to desctibe a V triad in its three possible inversions, it would look like so:
6
2nd 6 5th in bass
4
4 Root position: V
3
6
3rd N/A 1st inversion:
4 7thVin6bass
2
6
2nd inversion: V4

If we were trying to describe a V 7th chord in its four possible inversions, it would look like this:
If we were trying to describe a V 7th chord in its four possible inversions, it would look like this:
7
Root position: V
6
1st inversion: V 5
Root position: V
4
2nd inversion: 6
1st inversion: V
V 35
4
3rd 4
2ndinversion:
inversion: V
V 23
4
3rd inversion: V2

75