Notes are a fundamental part of music. Each instrument produces specific sounds at a particular tone to create something reproducible from the melody to the bass accompaniment.
Some instruments produce chords, which are notes played together to create a unique harmony. Options like the piano and the guitar tend to be the most popular since individuals can make them alone, but you can pair three trumpets together to create the same effect.
Understanding the difference between a root and bass note ensures that you grasp this fundamental component of musical theory.
What Is the Difference Between a Root Note and a Bass Note?
The root note in a chord is the one from which the chord is formed or derived. If a guitarist were to play a G7, the four notes would be G, B, D, and F, but the root note is G. The bass note is sometimes the same as the root note because it’s the lowest note in the chord.
Most people use the terms “root note” and “bass note” interchangeably because they’re used to playing basic chords.
If you play a simple three-note chord, the root and bass note is the same. For example, the G chord comprises the notes G, B, and D.
When you learn how to play the piano, that concept makes it much easier to understand what to play. You “skip up” to each finger position based on the root sound that the composition requires.
If you have a basic C chord in a major triad, you will play C, E, and G. Those examples are endless, based on the sounds you want.
In some situations, you can play the same notes of a chord in different positions. The traditional example of this option is to play the Cmaj triad with an E, G, and C – in that order. If you were to do that, the bass note would be the E, while the root note would still be the C.
When you have a flat in the chord, it can also be expressed as the sharp of the note below it. One of the best examples of this is the D-flat/sus2 chord on the piano. This two-handed harmony plays the D-flat, A-flat, D-flat, E-flat, and A-flat across two octaves.
You could say that the chord’s root note is D-flat, but express the bass note as a C-sharp. It could also be described in reverse by calling it a C-sharp/sus2 chord by playing a C#, G#, C#, D#, and G# on the piano.
That’s what makes music such a beautiful expression. Even if you play the same notes, they can be documented in different ways based on the composer’s preferences.
As a musician, it helps to understand the differences between a bass and root note to ensure that you’re creating each chord in the way the sheet music specifies.
The Bass Note Is Sometimes Called the Last Voice
One of the classic chords you’ll hear in many compositions involves a fourth note in the Cmaj triad: C(3)-G-E-C(4).
Musicians are given four notes to replicate in these circumstances to support the voice parts that accompany the composition. It can also be used as a way to simulate the sound of the human voice when other instruments are used.
In this example, the first C(3) note represents the “first” voice, which would be what the soprano would sing in a four-part harmony. The G would be for the alto, while the E would be for the tenor.
The final note in the chord would belong to the bass. That’s why it’s called the “last” voice. It’s easy to remember because the person with the lowest voice in the harmony gets to sing the bass note in the chord.
What gets confusing with this expression is that the chording is displayed in reverse of how it would be typically placed in sheet music. Most pieces start from the lower end of the scale and finish at the upper end.
That means it would be a C(4)-E-G-C(3) when looking at this chord. When you consider it in terms of voicing, you start from the top and work your way down instead.
No matter what chord gets played, the lowest note in it is always the bass note. If you think about how a house gets built, you don’t start putting up the walls or the roof without having a slab or foundation to use for them.
Most chords are played from their root position for convenience, which means the bass and root notes are the same in that situation. When different sounds and dynamics want to be included in the piece, a shift in this perspective occurs.
Three Common Ways When the Root and Bass Note Differ
When looking at sheet music, you might notice that some chords have different notations to them. This happens more often when playing the guitar with tabs, but it can be on piano parts and included with other harmonic instruments.
These notations tell you to play the chord differently from the root. That means the bass note will be distinct from the rooted harmonies.
Here are the three ways that you’ll see chords expressed differently in music today.
| First Inversion | In the first inversion, the third of the triad chord becomes the bass note, while the fifth and the rote notes get shifted above it. That means the root note is now in the octave higher for some chords. |
| Second Inversion | With the second inversion, the fifth in the triad becomes the bass note in the expression. That means the root and the third above it are stacked together to create the desired harmony. |
| Third Inversion | In a four-note chord, such as a seventh, it’s that note that becomes the bass in the harmony. You’d have the root, third, and fifth stacked on top of it to complete the expression. |
Any chords with more than four notes can have a fourth, fifth, or sixth inversion, but these are relatively rare on single-hand instruments. They’re typically restricted to the piano.
You can also see chords notated as “rooted.” That means you’ll play the bass and root note the same as the designation.
Another notation option is the popular slash chord. You’ll see the chord name, followed by a forward slash, and then the bass note expression with this option.
If you saw C/E on sheet music, you’d know that the composition requires a C root chord with an E bass note.
■ What About Counterpoints in Music?
An uncommon option found in some compositions is called “contrapuntal inversion.” That means two melodies, which previously accompanied each other simultaneously, are now switching the voice.
In a simplified expression, the melody shifts from the bass clef to the treble clef, while the harmonic accompaniment does the reverse. If two voices are involved, it’s called a “double counterpoint,” while three would be a “triple.”
If the inversion is in a two-part invertible counterpoint, this compositional component is called a “rivolgimento.”
Composers use counterpoints in music to develop themes while creating different intervals. It’s often done at the octave, but Beethoven and Bach sometimes liked to include them at the tenth and twelfth.
You can calculate the inversion interval by adding how each voice moves while subtracting one.
The best piece to try practicing this calculation on is “The Art of Fugue” by Bach. In that composition, the first canon uses the counterpoint at the octave.
In the second, you’ll find it at the tenth, while the third is at the twelfth. Contrary and augmentation motion occurs with the fourth canon to create even more variations between the bass and root notes.
When you want to hear the best composition to use an invertible counterpoint, “Jupiter Symphony” is an incredible example that uses five different themes that get listened to together.
Most instruments use the treble or bass clef, but this piece includes the C clef, which is sometimes used by the cello, bassoon, or trombone in the lower register.
The alto version is commonly used by the viola, which is where the middle line carries the C. that’s why the clef designation looks like two backward Cs merged together.
Best Electric Pianos to Use for Chord Inversions and Composition
Although it can be fun to experiment with different chords on any instrument, the electric piano delivers the most versatility.
You can try other voices, sounds, and pads to create unique additions to any composition.
It’s also significantly easier to work with chord inversions and different root-bass combinations to find something you like.
Over the past decade of composition and digital recording, I’ve found these electric piano models to be the best.
1. Donner DDP-90 Digital Piano
This digital piano is my go-to instrument for practicing my compositions before recording them in my DAW.
It delivers an authentic piano sound in different voices while using weighted keys to create a realistic playing experience.
Instead of using one pedal for a sustain-only addition, you get all three, like a standard instrument.
I love the 128 polyphony because it delivers the extra flexibility I need to experiment with different sounds.
A built-in amplifier works with your tablet, laptop, or PC for direct recording, but you will need some headphones or a set of speakers to get sound when it’s not connected to a DAW.
2. Kurzweil SP6-8 Digital Keyboard
This full-sized keyboard is what I reserve for playing live gigs. It delivers a high-definition grand piano sound that is ridiculously authentic, while the various effects allow me to control the narrative of each song on the stage.
You get delays, flangers, reverbs, distortions, phasers, compressors, and more, making it closer to an organ in the way that you can adjust each sound than a piano.
It’s also less than 30 pounds, making it perfect for transporting between home and the next venue.
You can activate up to four independent ARPs, use four effects at once, and have three pedal inputs for extra sound support.
3. Casio Privia PX-770 Digital Piano
This piano is the one that I keep in my home recording studio. It’s hooked up to my Apple MacBook Pro, where I still use Logic for most of my work.
Although it weighs 105 pounds and will never come back up the stairs, the hammer-action keys and detailed resonance make it nice for recording by a microphone, MIDI, or direct connection.
It comes with a stereo system building into the wooden cabinet, giving you the look and feel of an actual piano.
Although it only comes with 19 onboard tones, my DAW delivers hundreds more to use with the various updates that have come over the years.
If you want something that plays and sounds like a real piano, this instrument delivers consistent results with minimal maintenance required.
Are You Ready to Start Recording Some Music Today?
Electric pianos make it much easier to experiment with different root and bass note combinations. This instrument costs less than a traditional grand piano, takes up less space, and doesn’t weigh as much when moving it to a new location. Brands to use include Casio, Kurzweil, and Donner.
I started writing music when I was 14. The software that came with my Tandy 386 included a basic DAW where I could incorporate three different sounds.
That first composition took me three weeks to write, and my mother was so proud of it that she submitted the sheet music from it to a local competition.
The good news was that I didn’t finish in last place. The bad news was that only one other piece was deemed to be worse than mine.
That didn’t stop me from trying again. My music teacher told me once that the best way to find a brilliant composition is to get the bad ones out of the way first.
It took me almost ten years of composing before I sold my first piece. Since then, I’ve been privileged to have my musical expressions become part of my income stream.
The bottom line here for me with chord expression is straightforward. You’ll have more success with your music at any level when you know the difference between a root and a bass note.