How Inversions and Slash Chords Create Better Progressions [MUSIC THEORY]

Inverted chords are extremely useful. Working with inversions allows us to create better sounding progressions, since the bass is no longer stuck to jumping in parallel with the chord. This video explains the basic music theory of chords in first and second inversion, also called 63 and 64 chords respectively. In addition, we explore slash chord notation and 4 examples in full of how inversions can help us write more interesting and likable progressions.

The following videos are referenced in this lesson:

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Special recognition to the following members! Without them these videos would not exist:

Adam Granger
Billyshes
Bradley Bower
Brandon Combs
BuzzWasHere
Christopher Swanson
CrippleMonkey
Daniel Danciu
Darrin Goren
Don Dachenhausen III
Don Watters
Erik Lange
Joe Buote
John Arnold
jon reddish
Kip Ingram
Linas Orentas
Lord of the Chords Live on Indiegogo Now!
Marc Bulandr
Marek Pawlowski
Markos Zouganelis
Martin
Morgan M.
Nick White
Patrick Ryan
Philip Sharp
Stephen Marz

Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:40 What Are Inversions?
01:23 First Inversion
02:23 Using Slash Chords
03:07 Second Inversion
03:58 Minor Chord Inversions
04:28 Using Inversions
06:51 Inversions In Action: George Harrison "Something"
08:35 Inversions In Action: Dream Theater "Scene One: Regression"
10:20 Inversions In Action: Jake Lizzio "Generations"
12:37 Wrapping Up

[SignalsMusicStudio]

i made two mistakes in this video but tried my best to cover them up in post by overdubbing the audio. of course, this will only encourage the conspiracy theorists who believe that you're not hearing my real voice. but i'd rather have people speculate that i have a weak voice than be wrong on the internet.

[RCSmiths]

For 4 years I always thought Slash chords were chords that Slash played...

[hyalinamusic]

Jake: *Talks about Dream Theater*
Me: "A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one"

Also, that same chord progression is the same for the verse of The Spirit Carries On, which is super fun to play on piano.

[adityamohan]

Jake: *gives popular music examples*
Also Jake: *puts his own song in it*, 😝👌🤣

[mykhedelic]

The bass player has the power, clandestine power...

[samchandler]

Some people just know how to teach. Its just a part of them. This guy knows how to teach, it just flows out of him. He even answered the questions I had as he went along. What a great, great channel...

[insanemtl]

I loooove it :D
Being a metalhead, combining inversions with borrowing chromatic notes from parallel chords has helped me so so much with songwriting :)

Daaaamn does Generations sound awesome!

[vintageextreme]

This is hands down the best YouTube channel for learning music theory

[patrickdallaire]

If you haven't already you should make a playlist just for these "4 pillars" of progression writting.

I'm still practicing basic chord changes but even so, I've managed used what I've learned from your videos to blow my own mind. Thank you so much.

[maltybestgirl]

Love how it's almost a tradition to have a mistak on this channel.

[NelsonBlakeII]

I can't hear that Dream Theater chord progression without the vocals playing in my head. I've listened to that album way too much. Thanks for using that as an example.

[michaelberentz]

Dude, quick intro, right into the topic. no "hit the bell" etc, love your channel. So much good information that is just there, not covered in minutes and more minutes of blabla or wanking with endless intro soloing. thanks for this one - helped me a lot to see not only how to invert correctly, but the info on where to use it/ and when just rang the bell.

[TheVexHead]

10:00

Dream Theater - The spirit carries on

100%

[martynspooner]

High quality content and teaching that is always really good. Personally I owe Jake bigtime and I never ever thought I was even capable of learning theory, I always thought it was like advanced maths or something. But slowly slowly getting there thanks a lot

[chrisjoosten]

For anyone who's ever tried to teach/explain music knows how challenging it can be, and therefore, just how gifted this delightful man is.

[GatorDunnAZ]

This has convinced me I need to keep working on learning every note on the fretboard. Along with all the chord triads. Otherwise, I'll just have to manually look up every inversion, rather than being able to just figure it out for myself.

[johnroemer]

Cant believe it took me this long to find this channel. Awesome vids mate

[anthonymitchellalice]

Not watched this lesson yet, but as this is one of my favourite youtube channels, I know it will be great. Thought I would write a comment as I have loved your last two lessons on practical uses of the modes, brilliant stuff! I have been expecting your next lesson to be on writing a song in the phrygian mode. Hope you go through them all, so clear and helpful.

[LifeLongBruhGamer]

You are extremely helpful, I've never been able to find a channel that can easily explain the theory around chords without me being confused and give up on it but you're way of getting to the point and explaining in a simplified manner is amazing.

[Outside]

Inversions are an amazing tool. I love using them in my music, much like sus chords, if I want to create some subtle movement in my chords without completely moving away from them, or when creating "soft" changes from one chord to the other. It helps a lot.