Chord inversion

[akstylish]

I'm confused about this. How am I supposed to know which inversion to play when written music only shows the alphabet of the chord? For example, in one song book G-C-E was used for C major chord in all songs, while in another C-E-G was used.

[Bobbotov]

I'm confused about this. How am I supposed to know which inversion to play when written music only shows the alphabet of the chord? For example, in one song book G-C-E was used for C major chord in all songs, while in another C-E-G was used.

Those are the inversions noted. First inversion is with the third in the root and second is with the fifth in the root. So you have the root position which would be C-E-G, the first inversion would be E-G-C and the second inversion would be G-C-E.

There is usually a harmonic reason for using an inversion. If it is noted in the music then there is usually a reason for it.

[akstylish]

So unless specified, you don't use an inversion? How is the first/second inversion notated in sheet music though? I used the second inversion for one of the song books only because it told me to in the last page, not in each sheet music.

[Bobbotov]

So unless specified, you don't use an inversion? How is the first/second inversion notated in sheet music though? I used the second inversion for one of the song books only because it told me to in the last page, not in each sheet music.

Really, you can do anything you want. But, as I said if it is written it usually means there is a harmonic reason for it and not arbitrary. An example might be let's say you have a three chord progression: C, Dm, Am. You may want to have a descending movement of the notes G, F, E so the inversions of those chords would be the second inversion for C (i.e. G,C,E), the first inversion for Dm (F,A,D) and the second inversion of Am (E,A,C).

Sometimes you will see a chord notation as something like C/E meaning it is a C major triad of the first inversion (i.e. E,G,C)

[wrench45us]

at one time some people with a lot more training than I had told me I had nice voice leading. It turned out it was because I was moving my fingers as little as possible when moving from one chord to another. I was trying to be smooth and lazy and it turns out that's also a guiding principle.
between minimal movement and 7ths resolving to 3rds (and a few other 'rules') like keeping the lead melody note as the highest note on a chord stack govebrs the inversion
these days its mostly anything much goes for the keys player and let the bass player handle the root movement

[akstylish]

But, as I said if it is written it usually means there is a harmonic reason for it and not arbitrary.

I figured as much. My question was about its notation.

Sometimes you will see a chord notation as something like C/E meaning it is a C major triad of the first inversion (i.e. E,G,C)

Is it the standard way of notating inversions? I'm asking because you said 'sometimes'.

[Bobbotov]

Is it the standard way of notating inversions? I'm asking because you said 'sometimes'.

Yes, it is the standard way of notation. I said sometimes because I have seen it written with Roman numerals as well like this:

http://www.classicalguitarblog.net/wp-c ... 01/6-3.png

Which would be a major chord with a sixth but rooted on the third.

[JumpingJackFlash]

First inversion is with the third in the root and second is with the fifth in the root.

That should be bass not root. The root of a C major chord is always C, regardless of inversion.

In figured bass, 5/3 is a root position chord (normally implied unless otherwise stated).
6/3 is a first inversion chord (normally abbreviated to 6).
6/4 is a second inversion chord.
(Figures are usually written without the / line, but this is hard here).

In classical theory, some people also use suffixes to Roman numerals to indicate inversion, eg. Ia, Ib, Ic, etc.
a is root position, b is first inversion, c is second inversion (and so on).

In all cases, the inversion is dependant on which note of the chord is the lowest.


Merry Christmas!