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4.6 Chord Theory

  • Learn the information below.

inverting triads

This chart shows the location of chord tones in a root position, first inversion, and second inversion closed voiced triad.

voice leading

Chords in a progression can be inverted to create minimal movement between voices, which is called smooth voice leading. In order to achieve smooth voice leading, choose inversions for which the notes in each voice (bottom, middle, or top) stay the same or move up or down by one note only.

EXAMPLE 1

C is a common tone between the C (I) and F (IV) chord: It is the fifth of the IV chord and needs to be in the bottom voice. Move the IV chord to second inversion to retain smooth voice leading.

EXAMPLE 2

IV and V are next to each other in the scale and share no common tones. Move the V chord to second inversion to make sure the notes in each voice only move by one letter.

 

Assignment

Goal: To be able to invert chords and apply them in practice

How to Complete the Assignment:

  1. Open the Triad Spelling Worksheet

  2. Write out the G major scale using letter names (G, A, B . . .), chord qualities (maj, min, dim), and roman numerals (I, ii, iii . . .)

  3. In the bottom row, write in all the roman numerals from 1 to 7. Then, write in all the chords for each of the roman numerals

  4. Spell a G major triad in 1st inversion and 2nd inversion. It is already given in root position. Make sure to list which notes are the roots, 3rds, and 5ths

  5. First spell the IV, V, and I chords in the slots above the roman numeral in root position for the key of G . Then invert the chords if needed in the slots above the "Inversion if needed" box. Last, in the bottom row write down whether the chords ended up being root position, 1st, inversion, or 2nd inversion

 

Apply

Goal: To be able to invert chords and apply them in practice

How to Complete the Assignment:

  • Exercise 1: Spell the ii chord in the key of C in 1st inversion and 2nd inversion. The chord is already given to you in root position.

  • Exercise 2: Spell the vi in the key of G in 1st inversion and 2nd inversion.

  • Exercise 3: Spell the following chord progression in root position in they key of G: I V IV vi.

  • Exercise 4: Take the chord progression from exercise 3 and invert the chords to create smooth voice leading

  • Exercise 5: Write out the notes for the chords using only the top voice and bottom voice in they key of C. This is will similar to exercise 4, except this one will not have a middle voice.

  • Exercise 6: Using the chords given for the key of C, write out chords using only the top two voices or the bottom two voices.

  • Exercise 7: Using the same pattern of notes, write out the chords one note at a time. Here, a pattern means something like this using any rhythm: 'Middle, middle, top, bottom' or 'Bottom, top, middle, top, bottom, top, middle, top'. Essentially, your goal is to invert the chords as you would before, but this time play them one note at a time, and you get to decide which part of the voice plays with any rhythm.