A chord inversion occurs when a chord tone that isn’t the root occupies the bass (lowest voice) of the chord. Chord inversions are typically noted by the chord symbol, a “/” , then the pitch name that occupies the bass.
![cmaj7_symbol](https://cymasphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cmaj7_symbol.png)
While chords are often derived by consecutively stacking 3rds, this is not always the case.
The number of inversions a chord has is directly correlated to the chord’s natural voice count.
Root Position – 1st note of chord in bass (Always root)
![cmaj7-1](https://cymasphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cmaj7-1.png)
1st Inversion – 2nd note of chord in bass (often 3rd)
![cmaj7-e-1](https://cymasphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cmaj7-e-1.png)
2nd Inversion – 3rd note of chord in bass (often 5th)
![cmaj7-g-1](https://cymasphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cmaj7-g-1.png)
3rd Inversion – 4th note of chord in bass (often 7th)
![cmaj7-b-1](https://cymasphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cmaj7-b-1.png)
4th, 5th, and 6th inversions are rarely referred to as such in music theory, and only exist in large chords with 5 or more notes, however are useful as a representation of chords where tensions (9’s, 11’s, or 13’s) are occupying the bass.
![cmaj79-d-1](https://cymasphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cmaj79-d-1.png)
5th Inversion – 6th note of chord in bass (often 11th)
![cmaj7911-f-1](https://cymasphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cmaj7911-f-1.png)
6th Inversion – 7th note of chord in bass (often 13th)
![cmaj791113-a-1](https://cymasphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cmaj791113-a-1.png)
Chord inversions may also be indicated using a technique called figured bass, commonly used to analyze classical music.
Learn how to explore inversions using Cymasphere.