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Triads and Inversions

Transforming Root Position Triads into


Inverted Triads

The Triad

The Triad is a specific type of chord involving three notes that are stacked in
thirds.
The three notes, notated on the staff within a single octave, are found in line,
line, line or space, space, space combinations.

Members of the Triad


Fifth
Third
Root

The members of triads, from the lowest to highest note (when notated within
an octave like this), are named:
The Root
The Third
and
The Fifth

Members of the Triad

Root

The root is the note upon which the triad is built and for which it is named. For
instance, we can say that this triad, C major, is built upon the root C.

Members of the Triad


Fifth
5th

Third
3rd

The third and fifth refer to the interval, or distance, from the root when the triad is
presented within an octave like this.

Inversions

Just as a gymnast inverts himself/herself when performing a


somersault, triads and chords may also be inverted.

Inversions

Root Position

First Inversion

Second Inversion

Root Position

A triad can be inverted by rearranging the order of its three members.


Triads may be arranged in three unique forms:
root position
first inversion
second inversion

Inversions

Root Position

First Inversion

Second Inversion

Root Position

If you want to invert a triad in an ascending fashion, you can raise


the bottom note of the chord up an octave so that it becomes the top
note, creating a new type of inversion each time.

Inversions

Root Position

First Inversion

Second Inversion

Root Position

If you want to invert a triad in a descending fashion, you can lower


the top note of the chord down an octave so that it becomes the
bottom note, creating a new type of inversion each time.

Root Position

Root
Root Position

Bass

A chord is in root position when the root is the lowest note.


The lowest note of a chord is referred to as the bass.
In root position, the root is also the bass because it is the lowest note
of the chord.

First Inversion
Fifth
Third
Root

Root
Fifth
Third
Bass

Root Position

First Inversion

A chord is in first inversion when the chordal third is found in the


bass.

Second Inversion
Root
Fifth
Third
Root

Fifth
Third

Third
Root
Fifth
Bass

Root Position

First Inversion

Second Inversion

A chord is in second inversion when the chordal fifth is found in the


bass.

Inversions with seventh


chords

Root Position

First Inversion

Second Inversion

Third Inversion

Seventh chords can also be inverted.


Notice how a third inversion is now possible.

Root Position

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