First inversion: the sixth chord

Move the root of a triad up an octave to get a sixth chord, and recognise it on the staff and by ear.

The root goes up

A triad has three notes: the root, the third and the fifth. While the root is at the bottom, the triad is in root position.

Move the root up an octave and the third ends up at the bottom. This is the first inversion of the triad, the sixth chord. The notes are the same and so is the chord (C major is still C major); only the arrangement changes.

A C major triad and its first inversion

Practice: Sixth chord or triad? (1)

Practice: Sixth chord or triad? (2)

Practice: Build triads

Why "sixth"

Inversions are named after the intervals above the bass. In a sixth chord, from the bass to the top note is a sixth, hence the name (marked with the figure 6).

A sixth chord sounds softer and lighter than the triad: the bass holds the third, not the anchoring root. That makes it good for carrying the music on rather than ending it.

C major: root position and the sixth chord

To find the root of an inverted chord, rearrange the notes so that they stack in thirds. The bottom note of that stack is the root. In a sixth chord it is always the top note of the fourth.

Practice: Sixth chord or triad? (3)

Practice: Find the root