Preliminaries

Inversions of Triads

triads showing inversions

Triads have three positions or inversions:

  • root position, with the root of the chord as the lowest note
  • first inversion, with the third of the chord as the lowest note
  • second inversion with the fifth of the chord as the lowest note

In roman numeral analysis, arabic numbers show the chord's inversion, and as we shall see later, extensions to the basic triad. Both full and abbreviated forms appear regularly. For example, root position is assumed if the roman numeral analysis does not have any accompanying inversion information, as shown in the examples.

Summary of Triad Inversions 

Full Forms

Position:|   R    |  1ST  |  2ND
  -----    -----    -----   -----
         |   5    |   6   |   6
         |   3    |   3   |   4



Abbreviated Forms

Position:|    R    |  1ST  |  2ND
  -----     -----    -----   -----
         |         |   6   |   6
         |         |       |   4