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Neil Meyer
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They ask you the...

    1. Root (First / Bottom note of the chord.)
    1. Position / Inversion (Which note of the chord is on the bottom of the given chord.)
    1. Type (Major / minor / Augmented / Diminished.)
    1. and the Roman Numeral that indicates the chord.

So lets take them in turn.

  1. is self explanatory the note that the chord is based on C/E/G ie C chord --> C

  2. Inversions considers the note that is in the bass (BOTTOM) in the example the G is in the bass ie 2nd Inversion. If the C was in the bass it would be in root position and if the e is in the bass it is 1st inversion.

  3. The third question asks you the type of chord the main ones you can expect at this stage of your theory education are.

  • a) Major chords --> A chord with a Major Third and A Perfect Fifth
  • b) minor Chords --> A Chord with a minor third and a Perfect Fifth
  • c) Augmented Chords --> A chord with a Major third and a Augmented Fifth
  • d) Diminished Chords --> A Chord with a minor third and a Diminished Fifth.

The roman numerals gives the indication of the chord and on which note of the scale it is built on. You get...

  • (I) - (i) --> Tonic Chord (First note of the scale.)
  • (II) - (ii) --> Super Tonic (Second note of the scale.)
  • (III) - (iii) --> Mediant (Third note of the scale.)
  • (IV) - (iv) --> Sub Dominant (Fourth note of the scale.)
  • (v) - (v) --> Dominant (Fifth note of the scale.)
  • (VI) - (vi) Sub Mediant (Sixth note of the scale.)
  • (VII) - (vii) Leading Tone (Seventh note of the scale.)

Capital numerals indicate Major Chords Lower Case numerals indicate minor chords

  • --> means augmented little degree sign --> diminished Chord

5/3 means root position 6 means first inversion and 6/4 means second inversion.

Neil Meyer
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