By Jackie Don Loe
~ Minor Chord Inversion Blues ~
Last month we looked at how to play the inversions of a C dominant 7
chord using a drop 2 voicing with the bass on the fifth string. If we lower the third note
(E) of the chord a half step to E flat, we now have a C minor 7 chord. The C minor 7 chord
is spelled out on the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 13th fret of the fifth string as (root) C, (flat
third) Eb, (fifth) G and (flat seventh) Bb. By substituting these chord inversions in
place of a standard C minor 7 chord, you can add a bit of color and variety to your
playing. Another way to view these chord forms is as a major 6. The minor 7 chord consists
of exactly the same notes as a major 6 chord up a minor third. In this example the C minor
7 chord contains the same notes as an Eb major 6 chord. The 1st inversion of the Cm7 would
be the Eb major 6 root.
“C Minor 7 Chord Inversions”
Bass on Fifth String
