Inversions and bass movement
Same chord, different bottom note, completely different feel.
Building chords · 9 min read
An inversion just means a chord note other than the root is in the bass. C–E–G is root position. E–G–C is first inversion. G–C–E is second inversion. The chord is still C major — the label written on a chart would be C/E and C/G.
Inversions exist to give the bass a line of its own. A progression of C, G, Am, F with all roots in the bass jumps around. Play C, G/B, Am, F and the bass walks down C–B–A–F, which is smoother and instantly sounds more considered.
A second-inversion chord — fifth in the bass — is less stable and works best as a passing moment or as the classic setup right before a big cadence. Use it deliberately, and you will hear it as tension rather than as a mistake.
- —Inversion = a non-root chord tone in the bass.
- —Write them as C/E, C/G — the slash names the bass note.
- —Inversions turn a jumping bass into a walking line.
Play C, G, Am, F with all roots. Then play C, G/B, Am, F and hold the difference in your ear. Do the same with a loop in G.
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