Book · Music
Beginner to Composer in 14 Days · Digital edition
He's Got Two Left Hands
Day 7
Left hand chord inversions
So far you’ve been playing your LH chords in what is known as root position. This simply means that the root note is the lowest note of the chord (R).
C major chord in root position:
C E G R
The root note is also sometimes called the 1 of the chord:
C E G 1
E and G are called the 3 and the 5:
C E G 1 3 5
These numbers simply refer to the position of the notes in the order they occur in the C major scale:
C D E F G A B C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (1)
Triad chord inversions
There are two other ways to play triad chords, where the notes remain the same but you play them in a different order. These chord inversions are a great way to make the LH accompaniment smoother. When you only play root position triads, your LH has to jump around quite a lot, which can sound bumpy and disjointed. When you have chord inversions at your disposal, you can opt for chord sequences that require much less movement between each chord.
| Chord type | Notes of the chord | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Root position (R) | 1, 3, 5 | C, E, G |
| First inversion (1st) | 3, 5, 1 | E, G, C |
| Second inversion (2nd) | 5, 1, 3 | G, C, E |
As you get to grips with inversions, challenge yourself to keep your LH sequences within one octave, or as near as dammit. You’ll really notice a difference to the overall flow of your composition.
- Choose any one of the three inversions for the first chord of your composition.
- Next, locate any notes (if there are any) that are also in the second chord of your composition. Keep a hold of this note/s.
- Play this note/s again, this time adding the other notes needed to form your second chord. Notice how creating your second chord in this way makes for a fluid transition.
- Work your way through your A section, chord by chord, focussing on creating the least possible movement between chords.
When you’re happy you’ve explored your options and found the smoothest movements between your chord progression, write the names of your chosen inversions next to your chords in your worksheet.
Time to choose: Select a rhythm for your new LH chord inversions e.g. quarter notes.
Keeping a steady 60bpm pulse, play your LH chords as your chosen rhythm and remember that your chord changes will still always fall on beat one of each bar no matter what rhythm you are using. Improvise above with your RH using your composed rhythmic phrase and the notes of the key, but with a focus on using chord tones. Play for one minute.
- Try one round with your RH close to your LH, then on the repeat try it an octave higher.
- Can you play the exact same thing twice? Can you remember what you play?