Chord Shapes

Minor 7th Inversion

Same chord tones as a root-position m7 (1-b3-5-b7) but with 3rd, 5th or b7 in the bass. Inversions allow the minor 7th sound to be woven into smoother bass lines and inner voice-leading: first inversion emphasises the minor 3rd and often feels comparatively stable, second inversion gives a suspended, quartal hint around the 5th, and third inversion (b7 in the bass) can highlight the chord’s pre-dominant role before V. Used in progressions like i–iv–VII–III or ii–V–I, m7 inversions support the guide-tone motion described in jazz harmony texts while keeping the bass moving stepwise or by small intervals.