Chord Inversion Tool

Explore every inversion of any chord with interactive piano keyboards, audio playback, slash chord notation, note frequencies, and voice leading suggestions. Select a root note and chord type to see all inversions side by side — from root position through first, second, and third inversion — with piano chord voicings and music theory context for each. All processing runs locally in your browser.

Root Note

Chord Type

C Major

C - E - G

1 - 3 - 5

Voice Leading Tips

Select a chord to see voice leading suggestions between inversions.

1-4 Play Inversion A Play All ←→ Change Root

How to Use the Chord Inversion Tool

Select Root Note and Chord Type

Choose a root note from C through B (including enharmonic equivalents such as C♯/D♭) and select from 16 chord types including major, minor, dominant 7th, major 7th, suspended 2nd and 4th, augmented, diminished, and more. The tool instantly calculates all possible inversions. If you first heard the chord in a recording, the chord finder can help you identify the root and quality by ear before diving into inversions here.
Explore Each Inversion

View inversion cards displayed side by side. Each card shows the inversion name (Root Position, 1st Inversion, 2nd Inversion, 3rd Inversion), the slash chord notation (e.g., C/E for C major in 1st inversion), notes listed from lowest to highest, a piano keyboard with highlighted keys, the frequency in Hz of each note, and the intervals above the bass note. This last detail is the figured-bass number-set that classical harmony teachers use to label inversions.
Listen and Compare

Click the play button on any inversion card to hear the chord voicing synthesized in your browser via the Web Audio API — no plugins needed. Use "Play All Inversions" to hear them sequentially and compare how the harmonic weight shifts as the bass note changes. Read the voice leading tips below the cards to understand which inversion creates the smoothest connection to the next chord in your progression. Once you know the inversion you want, the chord progression generator lets you build and export a full harmonic sequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chord inversion?

A chord inversion occurs when a note other than the root is the lowest (bass) note. In root position, the root is in the bass. In 1st inversion, the 3rd is in the bass. In 2nd inversion, the 5th is in the bass. For 7th chords, a 3rd inversion places the 7th in the bass.

What is slash chord notation?

Slash chord notation writes the chord name followed by the bass note after a slash. For example, C/E means a C major chord with E in the bass (1st inversion). This notation tells musicians which note should be the lowest sounding pitch.

How many inversions does a chord have?

A chord has one fewer inversion than it has notes. Triads (3 notes) have 2 inversions plus root position. Seventh chords (4 notes) have 3 inversions plus root position. This tool automatically shows all available inversions for the selected chord type.

Why are inversions important in music?

Inversions create smoother voice leading between chords, reducing the distance each voice must travel. They add variety to harmonic textures, create more interesting bass lines, and help avoid parallel motion. Inversions are essential in classical counterpoint, jazz voicings, and pop arrangements.

What chord types are supported?

This tool supports 16 chord types: Major, Minor, Diminished, Augmented, Dominant 7th, Major 7th, Minor 7th, Diminished 7th, Half-Diminished 7th, Sus2, Sus4, Augmented 7th, Minor-Major 7th, 6th, Minor 6th, and Add9. Each type shows all possible inversions with full details.

How is the frequency of each note calculated?

Note frequencies are calculated using equal temperament tuning with A4 = 440 Hz as the reference pitch. Each semitone is a ratio of the twelfth root of 2 (approximately 1.05946). The formula is: frequency = 440 × 2^((MIDI - 69) / 12).

What is the difference between a chord inversion and a chord voicing?

Inversions are defined strictly by which chord tone is in the bass: root, 3rd, 5th, or 7th. A voicing is the broader arrangement of all the notes — including which octave each appears in, whether notes are doubled, and the spacing between upper voices. Two voicings can share the same inversion (same bass note) but sound completely different because the upper notes are distributed differently. This tool shows the canonical closed-position voicing for each inversion; experiment with open voicings on your instrument for richer textures.

How do I use chord inversions in a progression to improve voice leading?

The goal of good voice leading is to minimize the distance each note moves from one chord to the next. For example, moving from C major to F major, using C/E (1st inversion) lets the bass step up by a half-step (E to F) rather than jumping a fourth. Similarly, placing a G/B (1st inversion) between C and Am creates a descending bass line C–B–A. Click "Play All Inversions" here to audition each option, then bring your progression into the chord progression generator to try them in context.

What is figured bass and how does it relate to inversions?

Figured bass is a Baroque notation system where numbers written below a bass note indicate the intervals above it, implying a specific inversion. A triad in root position is labelled 5/3 (often omitted); 1st inversion is 6/3 (commonly written just "6"); 2nd inversion is 6/4. For 7th chords the symbols are 7, 6/5, 4/3, and 4/2 for root through 3rd inversion. This tool displays the modern slash-chord equivalent, which conveys the same information in a more guitar-friendly format.

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