Trying to learn and utilize these new chord shapes is a daunting task at first. The thought of picking up a guitar, and playing a 1st inversion Amajor chord, that doesn't even have the root on the bottom, seems impossible. The key to using chord inversions properly is to know which string the root in each voicing is on. When you have internalized this, you can form the chord shape around that root. Learning major chord inversions this way will make the task of finding the root position chord, and counting up to the proper inversion, unneccessary. Here is a suggested practice schedule to help you learn these new chords as quickly as possible:
Step 1: Randomly choose a major chord to work with (eg. Amajor, or C#major, or Dmajor, etc.)
- Start by playing only the root position chord; on each of the 4 string groups.
- Then, play root position, 1st inversion, and 2nd inversion chords on each of the 4 string groups.
- If space allows, try playing the chords down the neck starting with root position. Eg. Amajor on 5,4, 3 string group. play root position at twelvth fret, then 2nd inversion on seventh fret, then 1st inversion on fourth fret. Repeat on other strings where possible).
- Next, try picturing the root position chord shape on each string group, without playing it. Then, play each 1st inversion shape.
- Picture the root position and 1st inversion chord shapes on each string group, without playing them. Play each 2nd inversion shape.
- Play the 1st inversion major chord shapes on each of the 4 string groups, without playing the root position chord.
- Repeat the above with 2nd inversion chords.
- Play the root position voicing of the first chord, then the root position voicing of the second chord. Repeat on each of the four string groups.
- Play the root position voicing of the first chord, then the root position, 1st inversion, and 2nd inversion voicings for the second chord. Repeat on each string group. While you are playing the voicings for the second chord, remember where you played the root position voicing for the first chord.
- Play the root position voicing for the first chord, then move directly to the closest voicing (on the same string group) for the second chord, whether it be root position, 1st inversion, or 2nd inversion. Repeat on each string group.
- Play the 1st inversion voicing for the first chord, then move directly to the closest voicing (on the same string group) for the second chord, whether it be root position, 1st inversion, or 2nd inversion. Repeat on each string group.
- Repeat the above for the first 2nd inversion voicing, on each string group.
- Play the lowest voicing available on a string group for the 1st voicing (whether that be root position, 1st, or 2nd inversion). Move up the neck to the closest available inversion for the second chord. Move again up the neck to the next available inversion of the first chord. Repeat this process all the way up the neck, on each string group.
- Play each chord in the progression in root position, one string group at a time.
- Play the root position of the first chord, then move to the closest inversion (on the same string group) of the second chord. Move again to the closest inversion of the third chord. Repeat for as many chords as there are in the progression. Repeat on each string group.
- Try the above exercise, starting on the 1st inversion of the first chord. You should end up with an entirely new set of voicings for the same progression. Repeat on each string group.
- Play the lowest voicing available on a string group for the 1st voicing (whether that be root position, 1st, or 2nd inversion). Move up the neck to the closest available inversion for the second chord. Move again up the neck to the next available inversion of the third chord. Repeat this process all the way up the neck, on each string group.
- Think of your own ideas for practicing these chord inversions.
What Now?
That's it! That's all there is to learn in this lesson. In order to use these in everyday practical musical situations, you'll also need to know the inversions for minor chords (since most songs use both major and minor chords). Once you've learned these major chord inversions, though, you'll find learning the minor shapes not nearly as difficult. Check back soon for a lesson on these minor voicings. Hope you learned something!
