Piano Chords for Singers · Part 2

Inversions in More Keys. Flats, sharps and inversions: complete ten chords in the keys singers use most

Umkehrungen in weiteren Tonarten: Kreuz- und b-Tonarten: zehn Akkorde in typischen Gesangstonarten vervollständigen

1 Flats, Sharps and Inversions

Vorzeichen und Umkehrungen

Part 1 used mostly white keys. Real songs are often in keys with flats (♭) and sharps (♯). The rule for inversions does not change: move the bottom note to the top.

Die Regel bleibt gleich – nur kommen jetzt Vorzeichen dazu.

Root position

Grundstellung
B♭ root · bassD 3rdF 5th

B♭ – D – F

1st inversion

1. Umkehrung
D 3rd · bassF 5thB♭ root

D – F – B♭

2nd inversion

2. Umkehrung
F 5th · bassB♭ rootD 3rd

F – B♭ – D

English and German note names
B♭BBHE♭EsA♭AsD♭DesF♯FisC♯CisG♯Gis
Say “B flat”, “F sharp” – not “Bes” or “Fis”.
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2 Complete the Chord

Vervollständigen Sie den Akkord

The notes are listed from the bass upwards. Choose the missing top note. You get one try per question.

Die Töne stehen von unten nach oben. Wählen Sie den fehlenden obersten Ton. Ein Versuch pro Frage.

Score: 0 / 10

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3 Music English

Musik-Englisch

EnglishDeutschExample
flat ♭b, Erniedrigung (-es)B flat, E flat, A flat
sharp ♯Kreuz (-is)F sharp, C sharp
natural ♮AuflösungszeichenB natural = German H
key signatureVorzeichnungTwo flats in the key signature.
accidentalVersetzungszeichenWatch the accidentals in bar 5.
enharmonicenharmonischF sharp and G flat are enharmonic.
to transposetransponierenCan we transpose it down a tone?

Say it aloud

  • “E flat major, first inversion” – say the letter, then “flat” or “sharp”.
  • “Could we take it down a semitone?” (a half step)
  • “The song is in B flat.” – German: Das Lied steht in B-Dur.
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4 Why Singers Need This

Warum das für Sängerinnen und Sänger wichtig ist

Singable keys

Many songs are moved into flat keys like B♭ or E♭ to suit the voice.

Read lead sheets

Chord symbols such as E♭/G mean “E flat with G in the bass” – a first inversion.

Talk to bands

Musicians in English say “B flat”, never “B”. Getting this right avoids wrong notes.

The seriesPart 1Part 3Part 4Part 5Part 6Singing & MusicSinging vocabulary
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Hear it, name it, play it.
Play each chord slowly, say its name in English, then sing along.
Langsam spielen, auf Englisch benennen, mitsingen.
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