INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC THEORY

INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC THEORYTuesday, October 9, 2012

TODAY:

Music Sharing: Bridget (XHS)Review: IntervalsReview: TriadsIntroduce: Inversions Introduce: Figured Bass

INVERSIONS:

An inversion is changing the order of the notes in a triad.

When there is an inversion of a triad, the note names do not change.

POSITIONS:

Root position1st inversion 2nd inversion3rd inversion (7th chords only!)

ROOT POSITION:

The “standard” position of a triad Root on the bottom 3rd in the middle 5th on top

1ST INVERSION:

3rd on the bottom

2ND INVERSION:

5th on the bottom

3RD INVERSION:

7th on the bottom

WARNING!

To determine the quality of a triad, it MUST first be put in ROOT POSITION.

DETERMINING QUALITY & INVERSION:

Step 1: Write letter namesStep 2: Stack them in thirdsStep 3: Determine the quality of

chordStep 4: What note is on the

bottom of the original chord?

FIGURED BASS – TRIADS:

1st Inversion:I 6

3

C/E

2nd Inversion:I 6

4

C/G

FIGURED BASS – 7TH CHORDS:

Root Position:I 7

5

3

C7

1st Inversion:I 6

5

3

C7/E

FIGURED BASS – 7TH CHORDS:

2nd Inversion:I 6

4

3

C7/G

3rd Inversion:I 6

4 2

C7/Bb