One solution is to play I IV and V chords (this is Roman Numeral chord notation) using inversions to smooth things out. Sometimes you’ll play music that has inverted chords up and down the keyboard as in the last exercise, but often you will go from one inverted chord to the next in a chord progression. It’s extremely important to learn inversions in context.

Repeat steps one through three in new keys and using 7th chords.Įxercise 2: Practicing Inversions in Chord Progressions.First play just G chord inversions up and down the keyboard in your right hand (shown below).Do this in several different keys over several practice sessions.

If you are working on muscle memory, try playing inverted chords hands separately then together up and down the key board. Exercise 1: Play All Inversions in a Key (Develops Muscle Memory) Sounds challenging, but the following exercises should help out. There are 72 major and minor root position/inverted chords and we should learn them in context. Which (if any) reason is most relevant to you? This will change how you approach practicing inversions as is detailed in the next section. Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” has many inversions in the LH accompaniment. The piece is challenging to play if the muscle memory of an A♭ 2nd inversion chord is not cemented in muscle memory. The left hand of Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” hops between inverted chords and octaves.

With proper training your mind will subconsciously form your fingers into an inverted chord shape. Playing inverted chords in the right hand allows for smoother transitions and more interesting harmonies.

G flat major triad in second inversion