A handy tool to give your chords variety and a smooth sound is the use of inversions. Inversions give you the option to play chords in different positions without changing the quality of the chord. To invert a chord you take the lowest note and move it to the top of the chord, allowing the note previously above the lowest note of the first position to become the lowest note of the next position.

Triads

Triads have three notes and therefore three inversion options:

• Root position. The letter name of the C chord is the lowest note (at the root of the chord).

• 1st inversion. The C has been moved to the top of the chord and E becomes the lowest note.

• 2nd inversion. The E has been moved to the top of the chord and the G is now the lowest note.

Although this example is in C major, it is advisable to try inversions for all types of triad chords.

Seventh chords

7th chords have four notes and therefore four inversion options:

• Root, 1st and 2nd inversions are similar to the triads but with the 7th included.

• 3rd inversion. The G has been moved to the top of the chord and the B becomes the lowest note.

Again, it is good to know these inversions for all types of 7th chords. While playing through them, listen out for the ones that you prefer the sound of.