Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

Exercise 2—Class Exercise

Identify the root (letter name) of the triad, quality, and the inversion (root, first, second). Chord symbols may
help to identify the inversion.

• In root position, the root (the highlighted G in the triads above) is the bass note.


• In first inversion, the third of the triad is in the bass (and the root has moved to the top).


• In second inversion, the fifth of the triad is in the bass (and the root is in the middle of the triad).

Shortcut:In an inversion, locate the interval of the fourth. The root will be the upper note of the fourth.

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INVERSIONS OF TRIADS

AbM Abm

Bº B+

Root

GM

1st Inv.

G/B

2nd Inv.

G/D

Example

ROOT is A

A = Root of triad

Inversion = 2nd inv.

Quality = minor

Answer = Am 2nd inv (Am/E 2nd inv).