Quick Songwriting Tip - Inversions
What is the root note of a C major chord?
C, of course!
What bass note should you use for a C chord?
C!… or E…. Or G?
Come again?
You get a choice. Often you’ll hear C in the bass of a C chord, but that isn’t the only option. An inversion or ’slash’ chord is where you change the bass note. So a C chord could be in…
- The root inversion - C in the bass
- The first inversion - the 3rd, E in the bass
- The second inversion - the 5th, G in the bass
- The third inversion - The 7th, B (or possibly Bb) in the bass.
Here are some other good posts about chord inversions:

