How to use inversions

[JDHayes]

Ok, I know I am going to open a can of worms asking this question but.... I'm brushing up on my theory and I understand chords and apreggios and I understand what an inversion is but what I have yet to understand is what function they serve... why would one use an inversion

[BassChuck]

Modern bass players will use inversions the same way as every musician has in all of music history. That is, to create a more melodic bass line and to introduce an interesting color to the harmony.

If you are looking for rules of 'how and when' you'll be relieved to know that there are lots of rules out there and more than an adequate number of people ready to express them. The best advice (IMHO) is to listen and do what you feel work for you and your music.

[ryco]

Originally Posted by JDHayes

I have yet to understand is what function they serve... why would one use an inversion

For chordal instruments inversions give triads and chords a different sound, a different feel/texture. In three and four part writing inversions lead to smoother lines in voice leading.

For bass playing inversions give you different chordal note options rather than being limited to just playing the root of the chord. To my ear: playing the third of the chord in bass gives an airy open sound, playing the fifth over the chord gives a drone character, playing the seventh on the bottom sounds dark and foreboding.

Originally Posted by BassChuck

That is, to create a more melodic bass line and to introduce an interesting color to the harmony...The best advice (IMHO) is to listen and do what you feel work for you and your music.

Well put!

[mutedeity]

I basically agree with the last two posts. Inversions can help you make choices regarding voicing and voice leading. While I wouldn't use the term "more melodic", since I don't particualrly believe that you can rank melody as being more or less a thing, I agree with the premise that it gives you a wider concept of tonal movement in a melodic sense.

In a practical sense inversions can help you to choose how you actually play a certain chord or arpeggio. For example I often opt for playing an inversion of a diminished chord if I am playing it harmonically since it is basically easier and/or more practical to play. This tends to colour the way I voice certain things a certain way, but this is not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion.

Inversions can help you to visualise the extended voicing of a particular chord as well.

[jperalta]

You can also use inversions to essentially keep yourself from stepping on a soloist's toes. For example if the soloist is playing an intricate solo in 8 measures within the following chords: C C F F A G F C you might play a bassline that is straight quarters or eighths and instead of contributing more motion you might stay on C the entire time. So you'll be playing C C F(6/4) F(6/4) A(6) Gsus4(6) F(6/4) C.

There's many of perfectly valid reasons to play inversions. Try them out in different places and see if you like how they sound. If you don't then scrap it; if you like it, keep doing it.

[Correlli]

+1 voice leading

Harmony using Primary Triads
---------------------------------------------------------------
I	V	I	IV	I	IV	V	I
C-E-G	D-G-B	E-G-C	F-A-C	G-C-E	A-C-F	B-G-D	C-E-G
Root	2nd	1st	Root	2nd	1st	1st	Root