Root position: root on the bottom
The note the chord is named for — the root — is the lowest note. C major in root position is C, E, G from bottom to top.
Unit 5 · Lesson 8 of 12 — IB MYP: Personal and Cultural Expression · Communication
Chords: Part 2
A triad is always the same three notes, no matter which one is on the bottom. Root position, first inversion, and second inversion are just three different ways to stack the same C, E, and G.
First inversion: 3rd on the bottom
Take the root and move it up an octave. Now the 3rd of the chord (E) is on the bottom: E, G, C.
Second inversion: 5th on the bottom
Move the 3rd up an octave too. Now the 5th of the chord (G) is on the bottom: G, C, E.
Every inversion below uses the exact same three pitch classes — C, E, and G — from the C major chord you built in the last lesson. Only the order changes.
In this lesson
Learning Targets
- Identify root position, first inversion, and second inversion of a triad
- Rebuild the same three notes in a different inversion by choosing a different lowest note
IB MYP connection
Command terms: BUILD · COMPARE
BuildCompare
Learner Profile · ATL
Knowledgeable · Thinker — Thinking: connect scale and chord knowledge to the melodies and harmonies you build.
Task
Build each inversion on the keyboard, then compare how the same three notes sound with a different note on the bottom.
Inquiry: Why do root position, first inversion, and second inversion all sound like "the same chord" even though the lowest note changes?
Reflect: How did rewriting the same chord in each inversion change how you think about triads?
Now you try
0 of 3 correctBuild 3 answers
All 3 activities are visible. Build each answer on the keyboard to continue.
Write it on a staff
Your Noteflight task
Open Noteflight through MusicFirst in a new tab. Sign in with your usual MusicFirst account if asked, then return to this tab to keep practicing.
Take the C major chord you built in the last lesson and write it two more times: once in first inversion (E on the bottom) and once in second inversion (G on the bottom). Keep the same three pitch classes each time — only reorder them.
Musical requirements
- Write root position first: C on the bottom, then E, then G
- Write first inversion next: E on the bottom, then G, then C
- Write second inversion last: G on the bottom, then C, then E
- Label each chord with its inversion name