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  4. Ch.5.9 Seventh chords: root position and inversions

5.9 Seventh chords: root position and inversions

 

Category: Harmony | Tags: Chords, Seventh chords

Theory

In Chapter 2.11 Root position and inversion you’ve learned about inversions of triads. In this chapter, you will learn about inversions of seventh chords. You will learn that there are three kinds of inversions, namely the first inversion, the second inversion and the third inversion. In the videos and examples I show how to make first inversions, second inversions and third inversions. You learn to recognize first, second and third inversions and you are goning to make them yourself in the exercises.

1. Root position and inversion

When playing the root of the seventh chord as the lowest tone, this is called the root position.
When not playing the root of the seventh chord as the lowest tone, it is called an inversion.

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

 

Video

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An example with a seventh chord built on A

A seventh chord built on A is comprised of the tones A C E G, A is the root.

When playing the seventh chord with A as lowest tone, we get the root position, for example:

  • A C E G
  • A E G C

When A is not the lowest tone, we get an inversion, for example:

  • C G A E
  • C E G A
  • E G A C
  • E C G A
  • G E C A
  • G A C E

 

Examples

Root position and inversion of the A chord.

note example

piano example

2. The first inversion

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

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

 

Video

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Examples

Root position and first inversion.

note example

piano example

3. 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

4. Six-five chord

Another name for the first inversion of a seventh chord is: a six-five chord.

 

Video

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Examples

The structure of the six-five chord.

note example

piano example

Six-five chord is abbreviated by 6/5 chord.

5. The second inversion

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

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

 

Video

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Examples

Root position and second inversion.

note example

piano example

6. Making second inversions

 

Video

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

note example

notenvoorbeeld

7. Four-three chord

Another name for the second inversion of a seventh chord is: a four-three chord.

 

Video

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Examples

The structure of the four-three chord.

note example

piano example

Four-three chord is abbreviated by 4/3 chord.

8. The third inversion

When a seventh chord is played with the seventh as the lowest tone, it is called the third inversion.

The third inversion G A C E
Third inversion of the seventh chord A C E G: G, the seventh, is on the bottom.

 

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Root position and third inversion.

note example

piano example

9. Making third inversions

 

Video

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

note example

notenvoorbeeld

10. Two chord

Another name for the third inversion of a seventh chord is: a two chord.

 

Video

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Examples

The structure of the two chord.

note example

piano example

Two chord is abbreviated by 4/2 chord.

11. Practise

Harmony exercise 5d: practise recognizing the position of a seventh chord from musical notation.

Harmony exercise 5e: practise determining the position of a seventh chord.

Harmony exercise 5f: practise determining the lowest tone of an inversion.

Making inversions of seventh chords

 

Harmony exercise 5g: practise making inversions of seventh chords with given root.

Harmony exercise 5h: practise making inversions of seventh chords on the natural notes.

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