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7th
chord inversions
Inversions of 7th chords are basically the same as
those of triads. Because 7th chords contain one more note than does
a triad, there is a 3rd inversion
of 7th chords in which the seventh of the chord is the lowest sounding
pitch. Following are several 7th chords that are written
and spaced in various ways. Which of them are in root position,
and which are in inversion? It is helpful to rewrite each chord
in close root position (all four notes on adjacent lines or adjacent
spaces) in order to determine which note of the chord is its root.
We refer to a 7th chord's position as follows:
Root
position
The root is the
lowest pitch.
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1st
inversion
The 3rd is the
lowest pitch.
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2nd
inversion
The 5th is the
lowest pitch.
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3rd
inversion
The 7th is the
lowest pitch.
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Notice that there is no specific arrangement of the
pitches above the lowest-sounding note. It is only the lowest-sounding
pitch that determines the position of the chord. Also, the first
chord of each example is considered in
close position (all four notes lie within an octave);
the second chord of each example is in
open position (the four notes are spread more than one
octave).
  
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