1. Journal  Highland Cathedral – Mass band, Breman 2008  https://youtu.be/oieFS785QPk https://youtu.be/oieFS785QPk

2. Root, 1 st, and 2 nd Inversions

3. Review  What is a triad?  How do we construct triads?  How can we identify the quality of a triad (major or minor)?

4. Scale Degrees  I – Tonic  ii – Supertonic  iii – Mediant  IV – Subdominant  V – Dominant  vi – Submediant  vii – Leading tone

5. Inversions  An inversion describes the bass note in relation to the other notes in the triad.  A chords (triads) inversion is determined by which note is the bottom note in a chord (triad).  In an inverted chord, the root is not in the bass (is not the lowest note).  A triad may appear in one of 3 positions: root, 1 st inversion, or 2 nd inversion.

6. Root Position  A triad is in root position if the root of the triad is in the bass.  For example, in C major, C is the root. C is in the bass, followed by the 3 rd (E), and 5 th (G).

7. Root position examples  Construct the following triads in root position:  Eb + :  Eb, G, Bb  B - :  B, D, F#  F# + :  F#, C#, G#

8. 1 st Inversion  To create a triad in 1 st inversion, simply move the bass note up an octave.  The bass note is now the 3 rd of the chord.  For example, in C major, the 3 rd of the chord (E) would now be the bass note, followed by the 5 th (G), and the root (C).

9. Building 1 st inversion triads For example, to build a G major tonic triad in 1 st inversion… 1. Discover the root of the triad. (G) 2. Discover the 3 rd of the triad. (B) 3. Discover the 5 th of the triad. (D) 4. Draw the triad in root position. (G, B, D) 5. Move the root/bass note (G) up an octave. The 3 rd should now be the bass note. (B, D, G)

10. 1 st Inversion Examples  In the key of Bb +, construct the mediant triad in 1 st inversion.  F (bass/3 rd ), A (5 th ), D (root up an octave)  In the key of G -, construct the subdominant triad in 1 st inversion.  Eb (bass/3 rd ), G (5 th ), C (root up an octave)

11. 2 nd Inversion  To create a 2 nd inversion triad, move the root up an octave. Then, move the 3 rd up an octave.  The 5 th is now the bass note.  For example, in C major, the 5 th (G) would now be the bass note, followed by the root (C), then the 3 rd (E).

12. Building 2 nd inversion triads  For example, to build an A major tonic triad in 2 nd position… 1. Discover the root of the triad. (A) 2. Discover the 3 rd of the triad (C#) 3. Discover the 5 th of the triad (E) 4. Draw the triad in root position (A, C#, E) 5. Move the root up an octave. (C#, E, A) 6. Move the current bass note (the 3 rd of the triad) up an octave. 7. The 5 th should now be the bass note (E, A, C#)

13. 2 nd inversion examples  In the key of Db +, construct the dominant triad in 2 nd inversion.  Eb (5 th ), Ab, (root), C (3 rd )  In the key of F# -, construct the leading tone triad in 2 nd inversion.  B (5 th ), E (root), G# (3 rd )