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  4. Ch.4.11 Triads: the first and second inversion

4.11 Triads: the first and second inversion

 

Category: Harmony | Tags: Chords, Triads, Ear training: chords

Theory

In Chapter 2.11 Root position and inversion you’ve learned about the root position and inversions. In this chapter, you will learn that there are two kinds of inversions, namely the first inversion and the second inversion. In the videos and examples I show how to make first and second inversions. You learn to recognize first and second inversions and you are going to make them yourself in the exercises. You will also learn to distinguishing the difference between root position and inversions of major and minor triads by ear. You will find follow-up exercises in Chapter 5.10 Ear training: root position and inversions of triads.

1. The first inversion

If a triad is inverted, the root is not the lowest tone. The lowest tone is the third or the fifth.
There is one inversion with the third as the lowest tone and there is one inversion with the fifth as the lowest tone.

Because there is a difference in sound between a triad played with the third or the fifth as the lowest tone, these two inversions are given their own names.

When a triad is played with the third as the lowest tone, it is called the first inversion.

The first inversion C E A
First inversion of the triad A C E: C, the third, is on the bottom.

Listen to the sound of the root position and first inversion.

cd Triads: the first and second inversion | Musictheory.educationRoot position A C E: A, the root, is on the bottom.

 

cd Triads: the first and second inversion | Musictheory.educationFirst inversion of the triad A C E becomes C E A: C, the third, is on the bottom and A is the root.

 

Video

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Examples

Root position and first inversion.

note example

piano example

2. Making first inversions

 

Video

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Examples

Which tones do you get if you make first inversions on the natural notes?

note example

piano example

3. The sixth chord

Another name for the first inversion of a triad is: a sixth chord.

 

Video

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Examples

The structure of the sixth chord.

note example

piano example

4. The second inversion

When a triad is played with the fifth as the lowest tone, it is called the second inversion.

The second inversion E A C
Second inversion of the triad A C E: E, the fifth, is on the bottom.

Listen to the sound of the root position and second inversion.

cd Triads: the first and second inversion | Musictheory.educationRoot position A C E: A, the root, is on the bottom.

 

cd Triads: the first and second inversion | Musictheory.educationSecond inversion of the triad A C E becomes E A C: E, the fifth, is on the bottom and A is the root.

 

Video

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Examples

Root position and second inversion.

note example

piano example

5. Making second inversions

 

Video

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Examples

Which tones do you get if you make second inversions on the natural notes?

note example

piano example

6. The six-four chord

Another name for the second inversion of a triad is: a six-four chord.

 

Video

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Examples

The structure of the six-four chord.

note example

piano example

7. Practise

Harmony exercise 4j: practise recognizing the position of major and minor triads from musical notation.

Harmony exercise 4k: practise determining the lowest tone of an inversion.

Making inversions of triads with a given root

 

Harmony exercise 4l: practise making inversions of major and minor triads with given root on the natural notes.

Harmony exercise 4m: practise making inversions of major and minor triads with given root on all notes.

Making inversions of triads on a given note

 

Harmony exercise 4n: practise making inversions of major and minor triads on the natural notes.

Harmony exercise 4o: practise making inversions of major and minor triads on all notes.

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8. Ear training

Learn to distinguishing the difference between root position and inversions of major and minor triads by ear.

Exercises with major triads

 

Ear Training exercise 4j: distinguishing the difference between a root position and first inversion of the major triad by ear.

Ear Training exercise 4k: distinguishing the difference between a root position and second inversion of the major triad by ear.

Ear Training exercise 4l: distinguishing the difference between a first and second inversion of the major triad by ear.

Exercises with minor triads

 

Ear Training exercise 4m: distinguishing the difference between a root position and first inversion of the minor triad by ear.

Ear Training exercise 4n: distinguishing the difference between a root position and second inversion of the minor triad by ear.

Ear Training exercise 4o: distinguishing the difference between a first and second inversion of the minor triad by ear.

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Example question

Which position of the minor triad do you hear?

Choise 1: first inversion

Choise 2: second inversion

 

Practical steps

Sing the triad being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Determine which of the three notes played is the root (in case of an inversion, pay special attention to the distance fifth - root, this is a fourth). The root is the tone in the middle, the fifth is the lowest tone and the third is the highest tone.

Answer: second inversion.