First inversion

A chord in first inversion, in other words with its third in the bass and its root a sixth above it. This is how the term is used in classical music today.

Root position, first inversion, and second inversion C major chords Play root position C major chord^ⓘ, Play first inversion C major chord^ⓘ, or Play second inversion C major chord^ⓘ. Chord roots (all the same) in red.

History

In early music, what is today called a six chord or first inversion in classical music was considered an autonomous harmonic entity with the root named by the bass, while it was later simply considered an inversion of a chord with the bass being the third (not the root) and the root being the sixth (not the bass).

Special kinds of sixth chords

The Neapolitan sixth is the first inversion of a major triad built on the flattened supertonic (second degree of the scale) - a Neapolitan sixth in C major, therefore, consists of the notes F, A♭ and D♭. Neapolitan sixth chord preceding authentic cadence (V-I)^ⓘ

There are a number of augmented sixth chords. Each of them has a major third and augmented sixth above the bass. When these are the only three notes present, the chord is an Italian sixth Italian sixth moving to V.^ⓘ; when an augmented fourth is added above the bass, the chord is a French sixth French sixth moving to V.^ⓘ; while adding a perfect fifth above the bass of an Italian sixth makes it a German sixth German sixth moving to V^ⓘ (the etymology of all these names is unclear). All usually have the flattened sub-mediant (sixth degree of the scale, A flat in C major, for example) as the bass note -in this case, they tend to resolve to the dominant.

See also

• Figured bass
• Inversion (music)