Which inversion places the fifth in the bass?

• A. First Inversion
• B. Root Position
• C. Second Inversion
• D. Third Inversion

Answer: (C)

Inversions of a triad are named by which chord tone sits in the bass. The root position has the root in the bass, the first inversion puts the third in the bass, and the second inversion puts the fifth in the bass. Since placing the fifth in the bass means the lowest note is the chord’s fifth, this is the second inversion. For a concrete example, consider a C major triad: C–E–G. In root position the bass is C, in the first inversion the bass is E, and in the second inversion the bass is G, which is the fifth of the triad. Third inversions involve seventh chords, where the seventh appears in the bass.