Many piano students hear that they need to know their inversions, but few understand what an inversion is or practice inversions until they become second nature. Here is what an inversion is, and three ways to practice them.

What is a chord inversion?

A triad is built by stacking thirds. In root position, the letter name of the chord is the lowest note: C–E–G. Move the C up an octave and E becomes the lowest note, which is first inversion. Move the E up and G is on the bottom: second inversion. To name an inversion, look at the lowest note. Is it the root, the third or the fifth?

1. The inversion exercise

Play root position, first inversion, second inversion and back to root, then descend, both broken and blocked. It's the exercise used in RCM and ABRSM piano exams, and it's harder than it looks: the spacing changes from third-and-third to third-and-fourth to fourth-and-third, and the fingering changes with it.

2. The I–IV–I–V–I perfect cadence

Instead of jumping between root-position chords, use inversions to move smoothly. In C, the I chord is in root position, IV in second inversion and V in first inversion. This smooth voicing is the reason inversions exist. Practice the cadence in every key and you'll have played every major chord in all three positions.

3. Songs and repertoire

Once the exercises feel comfortable, look for inversions in the music you play. Bach's Prelude in C is built from broken chords in different inversions, and pop songs use them constantly.

The video demonstrates each exercise at the keyboard, explains the fingering chart for the cadence, and finds the chords in Bach's Prelude in C and Dancing Queen. Watch the full lesson above.

Key ideas in this lesson

• An inversion is named by its lowest note: the root, the third or the fifth.
• Practice inversions both broken and blocked.
• Inversions create smooth voicing between chords.
• The I–IV–I–V–I cadence in every key covers every position of every major chord.
• Playing it correctly once is only the beginning; aim for several times in a row.

Related lessons

Chords and harmony

• What Are Chords and How Are They Made: how chords are built, the starting point for inversions
• Learn Major and Minor Chords on the Piano: the major and minor triads you'll be inverting
• The Four Most Important Cadences Explained: more on the cadences mentioned in this lesson
• Play Your Favorite Songs with Simple Chords – Five-Finger Scales Part 4: I, IV and V in root position, before inversions

Take the next step: Piano Mastery Intermediate. Module 2 works through the perfect cadence in every key, with pieces built on it.

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