You must first fully understand “root position” chords before you attempt to understand inversions. Inversions are based on a full knowledge of root position. Read the essay on ROOT POSITION CHORDS.
First of all, what is “inversion?”
It means, literally, “to turn upside down.”
Remember that in the root position chord, the name of the chord (C, for example) was always the same as bottom note (the key furthest to your left.) So if you played a C chord, the lowest key of that chord IN ROOT POSITION is always C.
Here’s a C chord:
G
E
C
The C is on the bottom, the E is in the middle, and the G is on the top.
Now take that bottom note C, and put it on the top of the pile:
C
G
E
Now you have a C chord in which the bottom note is no longer the root of the chord ( C ) but has been changed to E. The chord is still a C chord, except that it is now a different “flavor” of C.
Let’s do it with an F chord. Here’s an F chord:
C
A
F
The F is on the bottom, the A is in the middle, and the C is on the top.
Now take that bottom note F, and put it on the top of the pile:
F
C
A
Now you have an F chord in which the BOTTOM note is no longer the root of the chord ( F ) but has been changed to A. The chord is still an F chord, except that it is now a different “flavor” of F.
The principle is universally the same with all 12 chords: to make a “first inversion” of a chord, take the bottom note of that chord and move it to the top.
Do this with the basic chords C F G D E and A. Don’t go further until you fully understand the idea and can play C F G D E and A chords in first inversion and root position.
Music is a matrix of chords, and chords are the interlocking Lego’s of music.
Learn the chords and everything in music at the piano will fall into place.
By John Aschenbrenner Copyright 2008 Walden Pond Press All Rights Reserved
See also ROOT POSITION CHORDS
See also SECOND INVERSION CHORDS
See also THE SIX BASIC CHORDS FOR CHILDREN
See also TWO NOTE CHORDS FOR KIDS
See also PIANO CHORD GAMES FOR KIDS
See also WHY CHILDREN SHOULD LEARN ABOUT PIANO CHORDS
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