Inversions and Borrowed Chords w/7ths

It is time to combine inversions, borrowed chords, and seventh chords into one lesson. You should approach these progressions similarly to the triad inversion lessons, but now you will also have to pay attention for seventh chords and the occasional borrowed chord.

Since seventh chords have one extra note than triads, we use new figured bass to designate the chords. A root position seventh chord uses just 7 to show the extra seventh on top. A first inversion seventh is shown as V65 (C major seventh in first inversion is E, G, B, C - figured bass is 6, 5, 3, but only the 6 and 5 are necessary). Second inversion sevenths use all three numbers: 6, 4, 3 (so Cmaj7/G is I643). Third inversion seventh chords are less common, but I will include a few - the figured bass is 6, 4, 2.

Remember that you don't have to catch all the information on one pass. Focus on one aspect of the progression at a time until you have enough information to figure out the correct chords and functions.

Good luck!

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