5.6 Final Thoughs

Inversions are a great technique to add a little extra complexity to a song consisting of only vanilla root position chords. However be forewarned, many aspiring songwriters, upon learning about inversions for the first time, will begin writing songs in which every chord is inverted. Don’t do this!

Inversions are usually most effective when used sparingly. If you make every chord an inversion, the effect is lost. Many pop songs don’t use any inversions at all, so keep this in mind if you find yourself writing a song and wondering when to incorporate them. Below you’ll find a few more optional exercises to familiarize yourself with inversions

Which of the following chords has the same bass note as a V⁶

1. I
2. iii
3. IV⁶₄
4. iii⁶₄
5. IV⁶
6. ii⁶₄

What is the bass scale degree of a IV⁶ chord?

1. 7
2. 4
3. 5
4. 6

What is the bass scale degree of a ii⁶ chord?

1. 1
2. 2
3. 4
4. 5

In the key C, what is the bass note of a I⁶₄ chord?

1. C
2. B
3. G
4. E
5. F

What is the progression ii → I⁶ → IV → V in the key of C?

1. dm → C → F → G
2. dm → C/G → F → G
3. dm → C/E → F → G
4. dm → C/E → G → F

To help you familiarize yourself with inverted chords, the next example can be used to see common inversions in every key.

Common inversions