Inversions and bass function

Here the lowest chord tone becomes the central listening cue: root, third or fifth in the bass. Bass functions are first compared in pairs, then triad quality and inversion are identified together. Diminished triads are included: their inversions can be distinguished by the tritone’s position relative to the bass. Do not confuse this with the symmetrical fully diminished seventh chord. The augmented triad remains excluded because of its symmetry.