Episode 15 guides you through identifying and labeling the three chord formations.
Episode 15 guides you through identifying and labeling the three chord formations: root position (1:00) first inversion (1:17) second inversion (1:40). Watch out for similar labels in marco analysis (2:14)! Practice singing each inversion (4:06) and use solfge, roman and arabic numerals to decode six listening examples (4:56).
Question of the day: What are the numbers for first and second inversion for a triad chord?
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Hi and welcome to the APsolute Recap: Music Theory Edition. Today’s episode will recap Chord Inversions
Lets Zoom out:
We’re in Unit 3 - Music Fundamentals
Topic 3.3
Our Big idea is Pitch
There are three formations for triad chord pitches: root position, first inversion and second inversion. These pitches that are placed in units to create harmony can be labeled with roman and arabic numerals. This form of annotation can be used to describe written or performed music. The order that the pitches are assembled will determine the chord inversion.
Lets Zoom in:
Root position chords are three notes stacked in thirds, which gives you notes a third and a fifth from the root. In short hand analysis, only a roman numeral will be written for root positions, but a 5/3 can be written to the side of a roman numeral to point out the root position.
First inversion chords are three notes, but with the root note on top. Therefore from the lowest sounding note, the next note will be a third away, and the top note will be a sixth away. Therefore a chord in first inversion will have a roman numeral followed by 6/3. Often in short hand, the roman numeral can be paired with just a 6 to notate the first inversion.
Second inversion chords are three notes, but with the root and third on top and the fifth as the bass note. From the lowest sounding pitch, the next note is a fourth away, and the top pitch is a sixth away. A chord in second inversion will be written with a roman numeral followed by 6/4.
The roman numeral for all of these chords can be found by arranging the pitches in thirds, looking at the root of the chord, identifying the key signature, and connecting the scale degree with the roman numeral.
Quick side note- You may have experience reading macro analysis, which is when chords are labeled with letters of the alphabet. In this form of analysis, we don’t frequently see specified chord inversions. When you see numbers next to macro analysis, it is referencing the added scale degree to the triad chord. For example, C6 is a C major chord with the added sixth scale degree, not shorthand for first inversion!
When identifying chords aurally, make sure to listen for the bass note, or the lowest sounding note. If the lowest sounding note is also the root of the chord, it is in root position. When the bass note is the third of the chord, it is in first inversion, and when it is the fifth of the chord it is in second inversion. The chord inversion labeling system we will review today is related to the figured bass that will be discussed in Episode 16.
So how do you practice aurally identifying chord inversions?
First, sing the triads in all inversions to get a harmonic bank of examples in your head. For example the tonic triad would be sung in these three ways-
Root position: do mi sol
First inversion: mi sol do
Second inversion: sol do mi
Next listen to chords, try singing the pitches from lowest to highest for each example, then use that information to identify root position, 1st or 2nd inversion. Here are six chords to identify. First the pitches will play simultaneously, then arpeggiated. If you are notating, we will be in the key of Ab major.
Chord #1, F Ab C
Answer: Root Position, F minor, Roman numeral lower case vi with an optional ara bic numerals 5/3 to clarify the root position.
Chord #2, EbAbC
Answer: Second inversion, Ab Major, Roman Numeral upper case I arabic numerals 6/4.
Chord #3, Eb G C
Answer: First Inversion, C minor, Roman numeral lower case iii, arabic numeral 6/3 or 6.
Chord #4 F Ab Db
Answer: First inversion, Db major, Roman numeral upper case IV, arabic numeral 6/3 or 6.
Chord #5 Eb G Bb
Answer: Root position, Eb major. Roman numeral upper case V, with an optional arabic numerals 5/3 to clarify the root position.
Chord #6 F Bb Db
Answer: Second inversion, Bb minor, Roman Numeral lower case ii, arabic numerals 6/4.
To recap……
The formations for triad chord pitches are root position, first inversion and second inversion. These inversions are identified with numbers based on the interval sizes from the bass note.
Coming up next on the Apsolute RecAP Music Theory Edition: Introduction to Figured Bass
Today’s Question of the day is about annotating chord inversions
Question: What are the numbers for first and second inversion for a triad chord?