chords guide · 5 min
Piano Chord Inversions: Notes, Chart and Practice
Learn piano chord inversions with C major and A minor note charts, slash-chord examples and a short practice routine for smoother chord changes.
A chord inversion changes which chord tone is lowest. For C major, C–E–G is root position, E–G–C is first inversion and G–C–E is second inversion. The chord stays C major because its pitch classes are unchanged. Inversions help you connect chords with smaller hand movements.
| Position | C major | A minor | Lowest chord tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | C4 – E4 – G4 | A3 – C4 – E4 | Root |
| First inversion | E4 – G4 – C5 | C4 – E4 – A4 | Third |
| Second inversion | G3 – C4 – E4 | E4 – A4 – C5 | Fifth |
Find an inversion by listening to the bass
Bass here means the lowest sounding note, whichever hand plays it. In a triad, placing the third at the bottom creates first inversion; placing the fifth there creates second inversion. Simply swapping two upper notes does not change the inversion if the bass stays put.
Play C4, E4 and G4 separately, then together. Now move C4 up one octave to C5, keeping E4 and G4. You have E4–G4–C5. The intervals above the bass change, but you still hear the same three note names. The inversion references below explain this distinction between a chord's root and its bass.
Read slash chords such as C/E and C/G
In C/E, the part before the slash names C major and the part after it asks for E in the bass. C/G puts G in the bass. These are first and second inversion of C major. The slash does not mean to play two unrelated major chords.
On a piano, the left hand can supply the requested bass while the right hand plays a comfortable C-major shape. Judge the inversion from the lowest note across both hands. A root-position shape in the right hand over a lower E is still first inversion overall.
Practise one small chord change
Try C major as C4–E4–G4, then F major as C4–F4–A4. Keep C4 in place. E4 moves up a semitone to F4; G4 moves up a whole tone to A4. The F chord is in second inversion because C, its fifth, is the lowest note.
Play each shape for four counts at 60 BPM. Repeat four times, pause, then try changing every two counts. Listen for notes that release late and overlap the next chord. Use no sustain at first so those overlaps are easy to notice.
Our virtual piano lets you play the individual notes by mouse or touch; simultaneous computer-keyboard input is limited to its labelled shortcuts. On a small screen, scroll the keyboard to reach the next octave. The chord finder is useful for checking chord tones; it does not provide an inversion selector.
Avoid two common mistakes
Moving every note up an octave changes the register but keeps the same inversion. To change inversion, change which chord member is at the bottom. Compare C4–E4–G4 with C5–E5–G5: both have C underneath and remain in root position.
Do not force one fingering into every shape. Try relaxed right-hand fingers 1–3–5 in root position, 1–2–5 for E–G–C and 1–3–5 for G–C–E, then adjust for hand size and the next chord. Stop and reposition if a stretch feels uncomfortable.
Try it now
Open the virtual piano and compare C4–E4–G4 with E4–G4–C5. Then keep C4 while moving E4 to F4 and G4 to A4 to practise the C-major to F-major change.
Open Virtual Piano →Frequently asked questions
How many inversions does a piano triad have?
A triad has two inversions in addition to root position: first inversion with the third lowest, and second inversion with the fifth lowest.
Does an inversion change the chord name?
The basic chord name stays the same when its pitch classes stay the same. A slash can specify the bass: C/E means C major with E as the lowest note.
Sources and further reading
These references explain the theory. The practice examples and instructions for Music Tools Now were prepared for this guide.