Nathaniel School of Music

Ways to Shift Chords on Time (Piano Inversion Practice)

To shift piano chords on time, practise inversions with three drills: play every major and minor chord containing one anchor note, toggle the I-V and I-IV cadences in all major/minor combinations, and move up and down by each interval from one root while keeping shared notes.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Intermediate · 22 min

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Key points

This lesson from Jason Zac of Nathaniel School of Music gives you three drills for changing chords on time and in a musical way using inversions. There are only 12 major and 12 minor chords, so once shifting between them becomes automatic, your creative mind is free to focus on rhythm, melody and improvisation. It suits pianists who know basic triads and want smoother, faster chord changes.

Method 1: The Chord Tree

Pick an anchor note. The lesson uses F. That single note belongs to six major and minor chords:

F can sit in three places in the right hand: at the bottom, in the middle or on top. Choose one position and play all six chords, inverting each so F stays in that spot. Keep the true root of each chord in the left hand.

Start with the majors and end with the minors: F major, Bb major, Db major, D minor, Bb minor, F minor. Then try other orders, such as minor to major in reverse. Repeat with F in the middle, then with F on top (starting from A C F).

Ways to level up

  1. Play each chord for four beats, then two, then one. Three beats is another option.
  2. Use an articulation such as short, short, long. The long chord acts like a trampoline that pushes you into the next change on time.
  3. Sing the notes of each chord and call out its name to train your ear.
  4. Alternate staccato and legato, and use the sustain pedal for the legato passages.
  5. Hit and jump: play the chord, jump away for a little arpeggio, then come back. This breaks the comfort zone that close inversions give you.
  6. Close your eyes, or look only at one hand. Watching the left hand shows you the roots.

Method 2: Cadences

Practise the two most useful cadences by toggling between chords, shown here in C:

Work through all four combinations: major to major (C to G, C to F), major to minor (C to G minor, C to F minor), minor to minor (C minor to G minor, C minor to F minor) and minor to major (C minor to G, C minor to F, which has a Dorian flavour). You can also chain them as I, IV, I, V. Most popular chord progressions grow out of these cadences, so take them through all 12 keys.

Method 3: Intervals

From a root such as C, move up an interval and back, then down the same interval and back. Notice the notes the two chords share and use inversions to keep them in place.

Going down by an interval is the same as going up by its inversion. So the six toggles pair up as minor 2nd with major 7th, major 2nd with minor 7th, minor 3rd with major 6th, major 3rd with minor 6th, perfect 4th with perfect 5th, and the tritone. Try every major and minor combination.

How to practise

Call out each chord as you play and give every drill a rhythm pattern so it stays musical and fun. Each day, try to invent something new with the same chords. When a drill becomes easy, make it harder with faster changes, new rhythms or eyes closed.

Questions about this lesson

Which major and minor chords contain the note F?

Six: F major and F minor (F as root), Bb major and Bb minor (F as fifth), Db major (F as major third) and D minor (F as minor third).

How do I practise changing chords faster on piano?

Start with four beats per chord, then move to two and finally one beat per chord. A short, short, long articulation helps push you into each change on time.

Which cadences should I practise with inversions?

Practise the authentic cadence (I and V, such as C and G) and the plagal or Amen cadence (I and IV, such as C and F). Cover major to major, major to minor, minor to minor and minor to major.

Why is the tritone harder than other intervals for chord shifting?

A tritone inverts to itself, and major chords a tritone apart, like C and F#, share no notes. You have to know those chord pairs well on their own.

Practise it

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