So, you’ve learned the most basic piano chords, memorized all of the key signatures and play various songs but now what?

If you have followed me in my previous post on Learn Piano Chords in Less Than 10 Minutes,  then you’ve probably played the basic piano chords pretty well by now. But wouldn’t it be nice if you could bring it up a notch?

If your answer is yes, I am here to show how to tweak the basic triad chords to create a subtle difference but yet impactful inverted piano chords. This is called the inversion.

Watch this lesson here or scroll down for further reading.

Click on the button below to start playing some songs!

WHAT IS INVERSION?

The word inversion in a dictionary means a reversal of position, order, form or a relationship.

A basic triad chord consists of the root, the third and the fifth degree of its scale. Altering the position of these three notes would produce inversion or inverted piano chords.

The lowest note or the bass note of a triad gives the name of the inversion.

When the bass note is the root note or keynote, the triad is in root position.

When the bass note is the third of the chord, the triad is called the first inversion.

When the bass note is the fifth of the chord, the triad it is called the second inversion.

Tonic Triad Chord

Again, if you have followed me previously in Learn Piano Chords in Less Than 10 minutes, you would have seen that in a tonic triad chord, the bass note is always the key-note for example for E minor, the bass note is E.

This is followed by the 3rd note and 5th notes of its scale, G and B respectively. The triad arranged this way is also known as a triad in root position.

The tonic triad in root position always consists of two intervals of a 3rd. However, in inverted triads, the interval always include a 3rd and a 4th. So, what does this means?

Using C major as an example, in root position, the interval between C to E is 3rd and from E to G is another 3rd.

First Inversion

In the first inversion of the key C major, the bass note is now E. The interval between E to G is 3rd and from G to C is 4th.

You can also remember that in the first inversion, there is always two keys (regardless if it is white or black keys) in between the bass note with the 3rd note and four keys in between the 3rd note with the 5th note.

Second Inversion

In the second inversion of the key C major, the bass note is now G.

The interval between G to C is 4th and from C to E is 3rd.

In between the bass key with the 3rd key, there is always four keys in between them and three keys in between the 3rd note and the fifth note.

Open Position Inversion

Ok, now that you have seen how inverted piano chords are placed closely together in the closed position, let’s see how they can be played in the open position.

What that means is that all of the notes in the inverted triads are played far apart. You will need both of your hands to play them.

Although the notes are played far apart, they are still described as being in a root position, first inversion or second inversion. However, the position or the intervals in between the notes are no longer than same.

Similarly, without adding or removing any notes from the existing notes in a tonic triad, we are going to re-arrange the notes for form first and the second inversion in open positions.

Using C major again as an example, the tonic triad of this key consists of the notes C, E, and G.

In the first and second inversion(open position), the most bottom notes remain the same as the most bottom notes of the first inversion and second inversion triads in the closed position.

However, the intervals between the most bottom note to the note above it are no longer the same.

In the first inversion, intervals between the most bottom note to the note above it is now 6th and from that second note to the highest note is 5th.

In the second inversion, the interval between the most bottom note to the note above it is 6th and from this second note to the highest note above it is 6th.

Now if you try to use the inverted piano chords instead of the basic triad chords, you will be able to hear just how natural they sound like. This subtle alteration causes a big difference in how the chords sound. Many songs are built upon inverted piano chords. Try and see if you agree with me.

As I always say, keep practicing and get familiar with all the piano chords until the point where they just glide through your fingers that you don’t have to look at the keys anymore. Kinda like typing on the keyboard without looking.

Learn one piano chord one day at a time and you surely will get there in no time. Do let me know how you go with this new style of playing and share with me how I can further help you in learning the piano chords in the comment box below. I would love to hear from you.

Have fun and keep playing!