Second Inversion Chords

Second inversion chords are the third chord position that students learn, since most methods restrict chord study to triads (three note chords) first. You must first fully understand both “root position” chords and “first inversion” chords before you attempt to understand second inversions. Inversions are based on a full knowledge of root position. 

Review First Inversion

Let’s review the first inversion chord, since in principle it is constructed in the same way as a second inversion chord. Remember in the root position chord, the name of the chord was always the bottom note (the key furthest to your left.) So if you played a C chord, the lowest key of that chord in ROOT POSITION is always C.

Here’s a C chord in root position:

G (top)
E (middle)
C (bottom)

The C is on the bottom, the E is in the middle, and the G is on the top.

Now take that bottom note C, and put it on the top of the pile:
C
G
E

Now you have a “first inversion” of the C chord, in which the bottom note is no longer the root of the chord ( C ) but has been changed to E. The chord is still a C chord, except that it is now a different “flavor” of C. The flavor is “first inversion.”

Now take that same chord and do the same process again. Here’s the first inversion chord we left off with above:
C
G
E

Now take that bottom note E, and put it on the top of the pile:
E (top)
C (middle)
G (bottom)

Now you have a “second inversion” of a C chord, in which the bottom note is no longer the root of the chord ( C ) but has been changed to G. The chord is still a C chord, except that it is now a different “flavor” of C. The flavor is “second inversion.”

Examples of Second Inversion Chords 

Learn these second inversion chords. If you played the three keys at the same time on a real keyboard, that is the sound of the chord:

The principle is universally the same with all 12 chords. To make a “second inversion” of a chord, take the bottom note of a “first inversion” chord and move it to the top. Do this with the basic chords C F G D E and A. Don’t go further until you fully understand the idea and can play C F G D E and A chords in root position, first inversion and second inversion.

Think of inversions of chords as groups of Legos, in which you can endlessly rearrange the order of the same three Lego blocks. For beginners, there are only three possible positions for notes within chords: bottom, middle and top.

REFERENCES

Chords

Kids Learn Chords

Basic Piano Chords For Kids

Root Position Chords

First Inversion Chords

Two Note Chords For Kids

Six Basic Chords For Kids

Two Note Chords for Younger Kids

What Is A Root Position Chord?

Chords for Kids