What is a triad called when the fifth is on the bottom?

What is a triad called when the fifth is on the bottom?

• A. First inversion
• B. Second inversion
• C. Root position
• D. Third inversion

Answer: (B)

In a triad, inversion refers to which chord tone sits in the bass. A triad has three basic positions: root position (the root in the bass), first inversion (the third in the bass), and second inversion (the fifth in the bass). When the lowest note is the fifth of the triad, that is second inversion. For example, a C major triad is C–E–G; in second inversion it sounds as G–C–E with G in the bass. Note that third inversion is not used for triads (it belongs to seventh chords), so the position where the bass is the fifth is the second inversion.

In a triad, inversion refers to which chord tone sits in the bass. A triad has three basic positions: root position (the root in the bass), first inversion (the third in the bass), and second inversion (the fifth in the bass). When the lowest note is the fifth of the triad, that is second inversion. For example, a C major triad is C–E–G; in second inversion it sounds as G–C–E with G in the bass. Note that third inversion is not used for triads (it belongs to seventh chords), so the position where the bass is the fifth is the second inversion.