Brainlag Music Theory

Labels and inversions

Music theory, Chords, figures and four parts, 15 minutes

A short recap of positions from Grade 5, the ABRSM Grade 6 book's labels on every degree, and the American Roman numerals and chord symbols you will meet elsewhere.

Which note is in the bass

A recap from Grade 5, now for every degree: a chord keeps its name whichever of its three notes is at the bottom, and the letter says which one is there. Watch the bottom note:

Step 4: in four parts. The soprano holds its note and the inner voices move only a little, while the bass goes from the root to the 3rd to the 5th; the label follows the bass

At Grade 6 the same letters go on every degree: VIb, IIIb, VIIb. Root position has no letter in this course (some Grade 5 books write Ia; it means the same). Second inversion sounds unstable, so it is used only in three special places: the cadential, passing and pedal six-fours.

The rest of this lesson and its 8 practice questions are in Brainlag Music Theory.

Screen 1 of 5, free to read.

8 exam-style questions, marked as you go, each with a worked solution
Anything you get wrong is saved to your flashcards

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