Ear Training: Harmonic Context Part 06 ' How to Hear Chord Inversions'

Welcome to the Lesson Bank’s video, Ear Training - Harmonic Context Part 06 with Craig Faniani.

This is #17 in Craig’s series on Ear Training (in sequential order). It is the sixth installment of Ear Training: Harmonic Context. Here is the explanation and practice for hearing chord inversions - the root, first, and second inversions of major and minor chords. This skill is essential for hearing the harmony below melody notes and the leading tones of chord progression - context in general and the marriage of melody and chords.

Craig Faniani is a SacJEF clinician, an experienced music educator, and professional musician

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Inverted chords are created by changing the note in the bass, thus the bass note determines which inversion has been formed. For example In the first inversion, the tonic note is not necessarily or always in the highest position, but the third of the chord is definitely in the bass. This means that a chord with the third in the bass, the tonic in the middle, and the fifth in the highest position is still a first inversion. By identifying the bass note, you can determine the type of chord inversion.