8/4/2019 PL 5 Chord Inversions

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Piano Lession #5: Chord Inversions

Chord inversions are rearranged chords. So far, we have been building and playing chords in root position,which means that the root of the chord is the lowest note played.

First Inversion moves the root to the top, or higher end, of the chord, so the Third is the lowest note played.Second Inversion continues by moving the third above the root, so the Fifth is the lowest note played.

Inversions are helpful because they allow you to play more fluidly. It rarely matters, especially if thekeyboard is part of a band, which inversion of a chord is played, since they all use the same notes. Mixingdifferent inversions to play with as little hand movement as possible makes playing easier, and allows formore creativity. This is illustrated below, right.

E Major Chord in Three Positions Common Chords in the Key of C Inverted to Maintain Hand Position

RootPosition

FirstInversion

SecondInversion

GMajor,FirstInversion

FMajor,SecondInversion

CMajor,RootPosition

E

E

E

G#

G#

G#

B

B

B