Bass notes with inverted chords?

[White Funk]

Hey guys, in my understanding inverted chords are simply chords that don't have the notes stacked in the usual order, right? If so, can you still play the root note of the chord and have it sound right? I'm used to rock and blues and don't know a lot of theory and they guys I'm with now use inverted chords and jazz chords too like 9th's and 13ths. Your thoughts?

 

[Mushroo]

I think you are basically on the right track with your understanding. Inverted chords still contain the root, but it is not the lowest or bass note.

Here is a recent discussion of inversions and "slash chords" you might find some answers: Slash chords – optional or not?

Do you have a specific example you want to discuss? Does your band play original songs or covers? Are there any well-known cover songs you are stuck on what to play, that we can help you?

 

[White Funk]

I think you are basically on the right track with your understanding.

Here is a recent discussion of inversions and "slash chords" you might find some answers: Slash chords – optional or not?

Do you have a specific example you want to discuss? Does your band play original songs or covers? Are there any well-known cover songs you are stuck on what to play, that we can help you?

Wow, thanks Mushroo for the nice reply! I'll check out the link you gave me and I'm also reading some music theory links that were posted elsewhere on this forum. Basically I've been invited to play on my new church's praise team - it'a all black gospel music. These guys can PLAY. I'm definitely in over my head at the moment but they are willing to be patient and I'm eager to learn. Aside from the different chord progressions that I'm not used to, the main issue I'm having is understanding what to play with the inverted chords, the 9ths and the 13ths. So that's the basic situation.

 

[lermgalieu]

You can still play the root but it depends on the song and what sounds right there (or where you want the bass note to be under the chord). You can sometimes dramatically alter how a chord sounds, for example, by playing the note a fourth below the root (so the fifth of the chord). But just depends.

 

[Mushroo]

A couple of very over-simplified pointers, to start you in the right direction:

• Inverted chords are often written as "slash chords." Play the note after the slash. For example, G/B chord, you play B.
• 9th and 13th chords are assumed to be dominant 7th type unless otherwise specified. So you can play anything from your musical vocabulary that you would normally play for dominant 7th chords. For example if you see G9 or G13, you can play any of the same dominant/blues/mixolydian/major-pentatonic type ideas that you would play for G7.

 

[White Funk]

You can still play the root but it depends on the song and what sounds right there (or where you want the bass note to be under the chord). You can sometimes dramatically alter how a chord sounds, for example, by playing the note a fourth below the root (so the fifth of the chord). But just depends.

A couple of very over-simplified pointers, to start you in the right direction:

• Inverted chords are often written as "slash chords." Play the note after the slash. For example, G/B chord, you play B.
• 9th and 13th chords are assumed to be dominant 7th type unless otherwise specified. So you can play anything from your musical vocabulary that you would normally play for dominant 7th chords. For example if you see G9 or G13, you can play any of the same dominant/blues/mixolydian/major-pentatonic type ideas that you would play for G7.

Again thanks! I was just reading the thread in the link you shared with me and I had already learned the first point you made. The second point is something I didn't know and it's a good tip!

 

[Mushroo]

Same goes for for maj7 and min7 family chords.

• If you encounter Gmaj9 or Gmaj13 (for example) you can think Gmaj7 and your bass line will probably sound good.
• Or if you see Gmin9 or Gmin13, you can think Gmin7.

 

[White Funk]

Same goes for for maj7 and min7 family chords.

• If you encounter Gmaj9 or Gmaj13 (for example) you can think Gmaj7 and your bass line will probably sound good.
• Or if you see Gmin9 or Gmin13, you can think Gmin7.

This info is REALLY helpful!! I'm adding it to my notes!

 

[Russell L]

You can still play the root, just don't play it as the bass (lowest) note if you want the chord to be (sound) inverted.