Piano Chord Inversions: Play Any Progression From Any Major Scale

To play any chord progression smoothly on piano, write out the chords of the major scale, list every inversion of each chord, then move between chords by keeping their common note in place while the left hand plays each chord's root.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Beginner · 17 min

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In this lesson Jason Zac shows how to take any chord progression written in Roman numerals and play it on the piano so the chords feel connected, sound professional and need very little hand movement. It suits beginners who already know how to form a major scale and can find the notes on the keyboard. Keep a pen and paper ready, because writing things down is a big part of the method.

Step 1: Write the scale in a circle

Write the notes of the major scale in a circle. This makes triads easy to see: start on any note, skip one, take the next, skip one, take the next. For G major (one sharp, F#) the notes are G A B C D E F#. From G you skip A to get B, then skip C to get D, giving G B D.

Step 2: List the available chords

Every major scale has the same pattern of chords:

• Major: I, IV and V. In G major these are G, C and D.
• Minor: ii, iii and vi. In G major these are Am, Bm and Em.
• Diminished: vii, the lone diminished chord, rarely used. In G major it is F# diminished.

Roman numerals work because this pattern holds in every major key.

Step 3: Write the chord notes for the progression

The lesson uses I IV I V, which in G major is G, C, G, D. The notes are G B D, C E G, G B D and D F# A. Playing each chord in its basic shape means all three fingers jump each time. It is awkward and sounds disconnected.

Step 4: Write every shape (inversion)

Each triad can be played three ways, all still sounding major:

• G major: G B D, B D G, D G B
• C major: C E G, E G C, G C E
• D major: D F# A, F# A D, A D F#

Whatever shape the right hand plays, the left hand plays the root: G for G major, C for C major, D for D major.

Step 5: Connect chords through the common note

Find the note two chords share and keep it in place. G major and C major share G. G major and D major share D. This gives three smooth pathways in G major:

1. G B D to G C E, back to G B D, then F# A D (D stays on top).
2. B D G to C E G, back to B D G, then A D F# (D stays in the centre). Jason Zac finds this easier than the first.
3. D G B to E G C, back to D G B, then D F# A.

If two chords share no note, simply find the easiest shift between them. Try whichever fingering feels comfortable.

Revision: the same process in F major

F major has one flat, Bb: F G A Bb C D E. The chords are F (I), Gm (ii), Am (iii), Bb (IV), C (V), Dm (vi) and E diminished (vii). I IV I V is F, Bb, F, C.

• F major: F A C, A C F, C F A
• Bb major: Bb D F, D F Bb, F Bb D
• C major: C E G, E G C, G C E

Pathways that keep the common note:

1. F A C, F Bb D, F A C, E G C
2. A C F, Bb D F, A C F, G C E
3. C F A, D F Bb, C F A, C E G. Jason Zac likes this one best. It sounds assertive.

How to practise

For any key, write the scale in a circle, list the chords, write all three shapes of each chord, then map out the pathways on paper before playing. Keep the roots in the left hand. Once this feels natural, apply the same steps to other progressions, such as I V vi IV or I vi ii V. Inversions are not an advanced new chapter. They are a tool that makes playing chords easier.

Questions about this lesson

What are the chords of the G major scale?

G major has G, C and D as its major chords (I, IV, V), Am, Bm and Em as its minor chords (ii, iii, vi), and F# diminished as its vii chord.

How do I use inversions to go from G major to C major smoothly?

Both chords share the note G, so keep G in place. For example, play G B D and move to G C E, or play B D G and move to C E G.

What should the left hand play when the right hand plays an inversion?

The left hand plays the root of each chord. That is G for G major, C for C major and D for D major, whichever shape the right hand uses.

What if two chords have no note in common?

Simply find the easiest, shortest shift between the two shapes. Writing out all the inversions first makes the closest option easy to spot.

Practise it

• Pop LessonsPractice companions for Jason Zac’s pop piano lessons: octave fillers, chord changes and inversions in every key.
• Chord TreesStart from a note and explore related chords, inversions and voicings.
• Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
• All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.

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• Play Any Chord Progression in Every Key Using the Smoothest InversionsTo play any chord progression smoothly on piano, write out the key's scale and triads in a circle, list every inversion of each chord in the progression, then choose the next inversion that keeps common notes in place so your hand barely moves.
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