Chord Progression Improvisation Videos with Inversions

Chords often provide the framework or building blocks of music pieces. 

If you change the order of the chord notes by moving the bottom root to the top it is called an inversion. When playing piano chord progressions this often makes it easier to play because you don't have to leap your hand as far to change chords.

 

Explore the sample piano improvisation videos by Forrest Kinney below that show how to create music based on repetitive chord progression patterns. Then choose your favorite style and improvise or compose your own short piece based on the same pattern.

1st Inversion Improvisation

Journey: vi-V-IV-iii

The descending cookie-cutter chords in this improvisation are all in first inversion position (move the root to the top).

2nd Inversion Improvisation

A Day Unbroken by Hours: -I-vii-vi-V-IV-iii-ii-I

The descending 2nd inversion chords in this sample create a dreamy wandering feeling.

Root and 1st Inversion Improvisation

Waltzes Were the Rage - 

Changing the left-hand chord patterns to a broken "down up up" waltz style accompaniment adds a classic dance-like feel to the music. This example includes both root and 1st inversion chords.

Root, 1st Inversion and 2nd Inversion Improvisation

Playing chords with inversions may look more complicated on the page, but it allows you to reduce the distance your hand needs to move so is often actually easier than leaping between root position chords. 

Create First Classic Chords: I-IV-V-I and vi-ii-V-I in C Major

Secret Dance: vi - iv-V7-i and IV-I-V-iii 

The energetic repeated chord rhythm pattern using a minor chords creates a mysterious dance-like feel for this piece. This example shows how using chords in both hands or left-hand chords with right-hand melodies both create interesting sounds.

Challenging Changing Inversions

Longing for Simpler Times I-IV and ii-V

Flux: I-IV-V-IV and V-I-IV-IV

These 2 samples require quick hand adjustments as you change fingering to move between root, 1st and 2nd inversions of the same chord quickly. The video shows non-standard fingering because Mr. Kinney has much larger hands than most children. 

For a real challenge, try to transpose any of these samples to a different key to train your fingers to play with ease in any key signature.