The root position of a
chord is the
voicing of a
triad,
seventh chord
A seventh chord is a chord (music), chord consisting of a triad (music), triad plus a note forming an interval (music), interval of a Interval (music), seventh above the chord's root (chord), root. When not otherwise specified, a "seventh chord" ...
, or
ninth chord
In music theory, a ninth chord is a chord (music), chord that encompasses the interval (music), interval of a ninth when arranged in close and open harmony, close position with the root (chord), root in the bass (sound), bass.
Heinrich Schenker ...
in which the
root
In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...
of the chord is the
bass note
In music theory, the bass note of a chord or sonority is the lowest note played or notated. If there are multiple voices it is the note played or notated in the lowest voice (the note furthest in the bass.)
Three situations are possible:
# ...
and the other chord factors are above it. In the root position, uninverted, of a C-
major triad
In music theory, a major chord is a chord that has a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. When a chord comprises only these three notes, it is called a major triad. For example, the major triad built on C, called a C major triad, has pitch ...
, the bass is C — the root of the triad — with the third and the fifth stacked above it, forming the intervals of a third and a fifth above the root of C, respectively.
:
In the root position of G-
dominant seventh chord
Domination or dominant may refer to:
Society
* World domination, structure where one dominant power governs the planet
* Colonialism in which one group (usually a nation) invades another region for material gain or to eliminate competition
* Ch ...
, the bass note is G, the root of the seventh chord.
:
In
figured bass
Figured bass is musical notation in which numerals and symbols appear above or below (or next to) a bass note. The numerals and symbols (often accidental (music), accidentals) indicate interval (music), intervals, chord (music), chords, and non- ...
, a root-position triad has no symbol, while a root-position seventh chord is notated with a "7".
According to ''The American History and Encyclopedia of Music:''
Note that any voicing above the bass is allowed. A root position, or uninverted, chord must have the root
chord factor
In music, a factor or chord factor is a member or component of a chord. These are named root, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth ( compound 2nd), eleventh (compound 4th), thirteenth (compound 6th), and so on, for their generic interval ...
in the bass, but it may have any arrangement of the third and fifth above that, including doubled notes, compound intervals, and omission (C-E-G, C-E-G-E', C-G'-E
'', etc.)
See also
*
Figured bass
Figured bass is musical notation in which numerals and symbols appear above or below (or next to) a bass note. The numerals and symbols (often accidental (music), accidentals) indicate interval (music), intervals, chord (music), chords, and non- ...
*
Inversion (music)
In music theory, an inversion is a rearrangement of the top-to-bottom elements in an interval, a chord, a melody, or a group of contrapuntal lines of music. In each of these cases, "inversion" has a distinct but related meaning. The concept of i ...
*
First inversion
The first inversion of a chord is the voicing of a triad, seventh chord, or ninth chord in which the third of the chord is the bass note and the root a sixth above it. Walter Piston, ''Harmony'', fifth edition, revised and expanded by Mar ...
*
Second inversion
The second Inverted chord, inversion of a Chord (music), chord is the Voicing (music), voicing of a Triad (music), triad, seventh chord, or ninth chord in which the fifth (chord), fifth of the chord is the bass note. In this inversion, the bass ...
*
Third inversion
The third inversion of a seventh chord is the voicing in which the seventh of the chord is the bass note and the root a major second above it. In the third inversion of a G-dominant seventh chord, the bass is F — the seventh of the chord — ...
*
Fourth inversion
In music theory, inversions higher than the third require extended chords; the fourth inversion requires a ninth chord, the fifth an eleventh chord, etc. Regarding these extensions, the writer Marcus Miller notes that:
Fourth inversion
The f ...
References
{{Voicing (music)
Chord factors
Chords
Voicing (music)