Because of the combo situation you describe, I find it's most useful to use the "slash chord" nomenclature to describe the overall chord. Instructing the chordal instrument player(s) verbally might use root / inversion (position) descriptions where the arranger thinks it's important. Typically and practically though it either doesn't matter, the instrumentalists will work it out amongst themselves, or the leader will provide sheet music parts for at least those passages.
Completely agree, slash chords are generally speaking much clearer and simpler to use, especially on a chord chart. They're also much more versatile in the sense they work perfectly for other types of chord too, for example, an F/G. They give you a simple way to describe and explain how to play more complex chords. Sometimes, you'll hear people analysing music using as inversions so I wanted to make the video to just clear things up for anyone who didn't realise that the bass note was key feature 👍
Not quite, I was playing E, G, C where as E augmented would have a G# instead of the G natural. Also, technically, the C would called a B# in an E augmented chord because it's considered a 5th and B spans 5 letters from E 👍
Oohhh....so that's what that means. I figured it out playing by ear, that harmonically, it sounded better, but never knew what it really meant. Cool, this info just opened up a bunch of doors. Glad I subscribed!
A C/E is the same a C major 1st inversion (E is the low note in both cases) , a C/G is the same as a C major 2nd inversion (G is the low note in both cases). We tend to use the slash chord version on lead sheets like you say as a system better suited to that
Interesting lesson! I’ve always enjoyed the way you go about explaining things. I think some music nerds might politely disagree that the chord quality of the first inversion should have the tonic on top.(Right hand) Even if there’s an E in the bass. Although I get what you’re saying if you complete the picture and the overall sound between the left and right hand. Cheers. Feel free to share your thoughts when you have time :-)
Hi there, thanks! A definition which requires there to be a specific top note as well is only useful to describe that particular chord voicing, that most basic form of the chord with 1 of each note played close together. It would be limited to only that, it’s not useful at all for describing the overall harmony because there’s a million ways to voice a chord. The only sensible way to describe the general chord quality (and not exactly how to play it) using inversions is to just define the bass note, the most significant key feature. IMO it’s actually easier to use the slash chord system most of the time. I can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone define an inversion in that way with an exact top note but I would politely argue back that it’s a useless definition unless you’re just teaching people those most basic forms or that exact way you need to play it.
@@PianoFromScratch thank you for taking the time to write back. The beauty of it is there’s so many different colors and tonalities when we start adding in/chords. I always found if someone has “jazz training versus what we call “classical training“ sometimes our brains think in different ways, depending on exposure, but I like your thoughts very much! I hope the UK is treating you well.
So if I understand this right, I can play any inversion I want and still call it a C as long as I play a C with my left hand or a C/E as long as my left hand plays an E. Lucky me, this is how I been playing all the time. (I'm lazy and don't want to move my hand more than necessary, also it makes it easier to find the next chord without having to look at the keys).
Seems pointless. You never see C 1st inversion on a chord chart. You see C/E. And if you play E-G-C in your right hand you are playing a C 1st inversion in your right hand - that's how everyone knows it and you are being pedantic. This only helps other pedants who want to correct others.
‘That’s how everyone knows it’. No, not everyone does. I’m defining what the actual meaning of a chord inversion is to teach those who don’t already know. It’s an important definition, people need to know that the bass note is the key feature of a chord inversion. It’s not really about chord charts, musicians describe/analyse music in terms of ‘real’ chord inversions all the time so clarifying the difference for those who didn’t know means they will now understand properly when they listen to those discussions. If I was interrupting to correct someone when it was clear everyone understood anyway what they meant anyway, yes that would be pedantic but that’s not what I’m doing. I’m trying to help the people who didn’t already know to avoid confusion/misunderstandings.
@@PianoFromScratchwell said, and an excellent instructional video that cleared up some of my confusion about four note and greater inversions. Reading some of these comments, I think this topic is all about short-form descriptions which of course cannot fully describe how a passage could (or in some cases should) be played. But then, neither can a full orchestral score and parts. Composers and arrangers can only write down the instructions they think of as most important, else written music would be unreadable.
Hi everyone! You can check out the Inversions & slash chords guide as well as the chords bundle here ▶ www.pianofs.com/downloads
Glad you cleared that up. I always thought Slash chords were played on the guitar.
That’s just guns n roses songs 😉
@@PianoFromScratch MMIA
My Mirth Is Audible
😂
Very informative video and so easily digestible. Thanks for the upload!
really useful, thanks. happy new year!
Because of the combo situation you describe, I find it's most useful to use the "slash chord" nomenclature to describe the overall chord. Instructing the chordal instrument player(s) verbally might use root / inversion (position) descriptions where the arranger thinks it's important. Typically and practically though it either doesn't matter, the instrumentalists will work it out amongst themselves, or the leader will provide sheet music parts for at least those passages.
Completely agree, slash chords are generally speaking much clearer and simpler to use, especially on a chord chart. They're also much more versatile in the sense they work perfectly for other types of chord too, for example, an F/G. They give you a simple way to describe and explain how to play more complex chords.
Sometimes, you'll hear people analysing music using as inversions so I wanted to make the video to just clear things up for anyone who didn't realise that the bass note was key feature 👍
Awesome. I love how you teach. Concise and easy to follow. Thank you!
No probs!
As usual, great explanation!
Thanks very much for this.
3:03 you also can say E augmented 5 😊 right?
Not quite, I was playing E, G, C where as E augmented would have a G# instead of the G natural. Also, technically, the C would called a B# in an E augmented chord because it's considered a 5th and B spans 5 letters from E 👍
@@PianoFromScratch oh thx. My mistake. 🥹
Oohhh....so that's what that means. I figured it out playing by ear, that harmonically, it sounded better, but never knew what it really meant. Cool, this info just opened up a bunch of doors. Glad I subscribed!
Glad I could help!
Hi. At 05:02 how is this different from seeing C/E on a chord sheet?
A C/E is the same a C major 1st inversion (E is the low note in both cases) , a C/G is the same as a C major 2nd inversion (G is the low note in both cases). We tend to use the slash chord version on lead sheets like you say as a system better suited to that
Thanks.
Sorry, but When the left hand plays a E and the right hand a C Major chord, isn't the name C/E wich means a chord of C Major on a bass played E ?
Yes, I said that in the video, that's another way of describing the same thing. Slash chords are a more modern system and easier to use.
Interesting lesson! I’ve always enjoyed the way you go about explaining things. I think some music nerds might politely disagree that the chord quality of the first inversion should have the tonic on top.(Right hand)
Even if there’s an E in the bass.
Although I get what you’re saying if you complete the picture and the overall sound between the left and right hand. Cheers. Feel free to share your thoughts when you have time :-)
Hi there, thanks!
A definition which requires there to be a specific top note as well is only useful to describe that particular chord voicing, that most basic form of the chord with 1 of each note played close together. It would be limited to only that, it’s not useful at all for describing the overall harmony because there’s a million ways to voice a chord.
The only sensible way to describe the general chord quality (and not exactly how to play it) using inversions is to just define the bass note, the most significant key feature. IMO it’s actually easier to use the slash chord system most of the time.
I can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone define an inversion in that way with an exact top note but I would politely argue back that it’s a useless definition unless you’re just teaching people those most basic forms or that exact way you need to play it.
@@PianoFromScratch thank you for taking the time to write back. The beauty of it is there’s so many different colors and tonalities when we start adding in/chords.
I always found if someone has “jazz training versus what we call “classical training“ sometimes our brains think in different ways, depending on exposure, but I like your thoughts very much!
I hope the UK is treating you well.
So if I understand this right, I can play any inversion I want and still call it a C as long as I play a C with my left hand or a C/E as long as my left hand plays an E. Lucky me, this is how I been playing all the time.
(I'm lazy and don't want to move my hand more than necessary, also it makes it easier to find the next chord without having to look at the keys).
wow just when i thought i was getting it
Seems pointless. You never see C 1st inversion on a chord chart. You see C/E. And if you play E-G-C in your right hand you are playing a C 1st inversion in your right hand - that's how everyone knows it and you are being pedantic. This only helps other pedants who want to correct others.
‘That’s how everyone knows it’. No, not everyone does. I’m defining what the actual meaning of a chord inversion is to teach those who don’t already know. It’s an important definition, people need to know that the bass note is the key feature of a chord inversion.
It’s not really about chord charts, musicians describe/analyse music in terms of ‘real’ chord inversions all the time so clarifying the difference for those who didn’t know means they will now understand properly when they listen to those discussions.
If I was interrupting to correct someone when it was clear everyone understood anyway what they meant anyway, yes that would be pedantic but that’s not what I’m doing. I’m trying to help the people who didn’t already know to avoid confusion/misunderstandings.
@@PianoFromScratchwell said, and an excellent instructional video that cleared up some of my confusion about four note and greater inversions.
Reading some of these comments, I think this topic is all about short-form descriptions which of course cannot fully describe how a passage could (or in some cases should) be played. But then, neither can a full orchestral score and parts. Composers and arrangers can only write down the instructions they think of as most important, else written music would be unreadable.