CHORD INVERSIONS - TRIADS

By rearranging the notes in a chord, we can alter the chords sound. When a chord is played with the Tonic or Root note as the bottom note, the chord is said to be in its Root Position. The diagrams below show the chords in the key of C Major in their Root Position. The Block chord triads (3 note chords) are formed by adding the 3rds and 5ths to the scale degrees.

By raising the root notes up an octave the 3rds are now in the bass. The chords are now said to be in 1st Inversion.

By raising the 3rds up an octave the 5ths are now in the bass. The chords are now said to be in 2nd Inversion.