Music Reference and Theory

Chord inversions (Part III)

Another continuation of the chord inversion work, this time with a closer focus on chord charts. First on this list is chart search by a chord's 'slash chord' name (eg: D/F#). This currently only works when this forms a proper inversion, so a search for A/C won't return anything, but this seems to be fairly rare, so this should help most people searching charts for this style of chord.

The chord chart detail pages now show easier to play inversions when available. These aren't always suitable to play for all songs, but, especially in a band setting, where there are other instruments, this may help you reach that annoying Bb chord more easily.

Examples:

• Search for D/F# (D major - 1st inversion)
• Bb chord chart

Chord inversions (Part II)

This week's update is a continuation of the initial chord inversion work from last week, and now includes inversions for all chords (not just triads).

Search support has been update as well. Now searches for chords by note will return the specific inversion of a chord, rather than just a generic "It's a C Major" sort of response. If you know the chord you are looking for by it's 'slash' notation (eg: D/F#), this works as well, and will give you the correct inversion for that alternate bass note.

For us guitarists, who don't always get to have correct note order, but still care about the bass note, searching by note will give you the most correct approximation of a chord even if it's not strictly correct.

Searching for a chord chart also works to return the correct inversion. 422100, for instance, returns an E major (1st inversion), or an E/G#. More work is needed for full slash chord and inversion support for all guitar chord chart features, so stay tuned for when those are ready!

Examples:

• Search for 'A C F' (F major - 1st inversion)
• Search for D/F# (D major - 1st inversion)
• Search for 422100 (E major - 1st inversion)