CHORD INVERSIONS-BY BODOM
by bodom (Jul 10, 2007)
Hey me again. I'm going to talk a bit about chord Inversions and what they are. Before you read this you should have an understanding of how chords are made. I recommend reading my lesson on Keys then Chords.
Ok here we go. I showed you how to form a chord using the formulas e.g. Major = 1 3 5 and minor = 1 b3 5.
I'll use C Major as an example. So basically you just play the 1st 3rd and 5th notes of the Key of C to make a C major chord. But what about the order? What if you played the 3rd note first, then the 1st and 5th? Will this make a difference? Yes it does, it is still a C major chord but it sounds different. This is known as an Inversion.
Lets look at the typical C major chord that is played.
The first note played is the C note. So this is known as the Root position. (C is the root note in the C major chord)
But what if you played this chord instead?
Now the E is the first note played. This is known as the 1st Inversion. 1st Inversion is when the 3rd is played first(when it is the bass note). This may be written as a C/E chord.
What about this chord?
Now the G is the first note. This is known as 2nd Inversion because the 5th note is in the bass position. This may be written as C/G chord.
There you go! Now you know what Inversions are. So if someone asked you to play a C/E chord you know that it is just an Inversion of the C major chord. Its just a C major chord with an E as the bass note.
Ok here we go. I showed you how to form a chord using the formulas e.g. Major = 1 3 5 and minor = 1 b3 5.
I'll use C Major as an example. So basically you just play the 1st 3rd and 5th notes of the Key of C to make a C major chord. But what about the order? What if you played the 3rd note first, then the 1st and 5th? Will this make a difference? Yes it does, it is still a C major chord but it sounds different. This is known as an Inversion.
Lets look at the typical C major chord that is played.
E---|---|---| <--- Open string
|-C-|---|---|
G---|---|---| <--- Open string
|---|-E-|---|
|---|---|-C-|
X---|---|---| <--- X means do not play string
1 2 3 <--- Fret number
The first note played is the C note. So this is known as the Root position. (C is the root note in the C major chord)
But what if you played this chord instead?
E---|---|---| <--- Open string
|-C-|---|---|
G---|---|---| <--- Open string
|---|-E-|---|
|---|---|-C-|
E---|---|---| <--- Play this string now
1 2 3
Now the E is the first note played. This is known as the 1st Inversion. 1st Inversion is when the 3rd is played first(when it is the bass note). This may be written as a C/E chord.
What about this chord?
E---|---|---| <--- Open string
|-C-|---|---|
G---|---|---| <--- Open string
|---|-E-|---|
|---|---|-C-|
|---|---|-G-|
1 2 3
Now the G is the first note. This is known as 2nd Inversion because the 5th note is in the bass position. This may be written as C/G chord.
There you go! Now you know what Inversions are. So if someone asked you to play a C/E chord you know that it is just an Inversion of the C major chord. Its just a C major chord with an E as the bass note.