Learn › The 4/2 Chord: When the 7th Is the Lowest Note
New Released in April 2026
The 4/2 Chord: When the 7th Is the Lowest Note
A 4/2 chord is a seventh chord in third inversion: the 7th itself is in the bass. V4/2 in C major is F G B D. Only seventh chords have a third inversion, and it is the easiest one to predict, because that bass note almost always steps down.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Why 4/2, and why sometimes just 2
Over F, G is a 2nd, B a 4th and D a 6th: 6/4/2 in full. Many books shorten it to 4/2, and some to a single 2. They all mean the same chord. If you see a 2 anywhere in a figure, the 7th is in the bass.
The resolution you can count on
The 7th of a chord falls by step. In V4/2 the 7th is the bass, so the bass falls: F to E in C major. The next chord is the tonic with E in the bass, which is I6. V4/2 to I6 is so common that once you spot the 4/2 you already know the next chord.
The 4/2 Chord: When the 7th Is the Lowest Note
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps.
Play the demoIn four keys
- C major: V4/2 = F G B D, then I6 = E G C.
- G major: V4/2 = C D F# A, then I6 = B D G.
- F major: V4/2 = Bb C E G, then I6 = A C F.
- D minor: V4/2 = G A C# E, then i6 = F A D.
Hands first, figures second
Play G7 with F at the bottom, then C with E at the bottom, and listen to the bass step down. Then do it in the keys above. ChordRunner accepts any inversion of a chord, so you can loop G7 to C in your own progression and play it as V4/2 to I6 every time, on a MIDI keyboard or with the microphone.
The levels in ChordRunner
- Beginner: major, minor, augmented and diminished chords.
- Intermediate: adds sus2 and sus4.
- Advanced: adds 6th, 7th and 9th chords.
- Pro: adds 11th, 13th and altered chords; an adaptive mode adds the next family when you are ready.
Common questions
What is a 4/2 chord?
A seventh chord in third inversion, with the 7th as the lowest note. V4/2 in C is F G B D.
Is 4/2 the same as 2?
Yes. Both are short for 6/4/2, the third inversion of a seventh chord. Different books prefer different short forms.
Why does V4/2 go to I6?
Because the 7th in the bass resolves down by step. In C, F falls to E, and a tonic chord with E in the bass is I6.
Which instruments work?
A USB MIDI keyboard, detected automatically, or a piano or guitar through the microphone. Everything runs in Chrome or Edge on a computer, tablet or phone.
How is this different from apps where you tap the screen?
Tapping trains your eyes and fingers on glass. Here you press real keys or fret real strings, and the game hears the actual notes, so what you practise is exactly what you will play on your instrument.
Is everything in the demo?
The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Try the demoKeep learning
Seventh Chord Inversion Symbols in Figured Bass
Seventh chord inversion symbols explained: root position 7, first inversion 6/5, second inversion 4/3, third i…
The 4/3 Chord: A Seventh Chord With Its 5th in the Bass
The 4/3 chord explained: a seventh chord in second inversion. How to spell V4/3, why it usually sits between I…
Dominant Seventh Chords Explained
What dominant 7th chords are, why they drive harmony, and how to play all 12 fluently with instant feedback fr…
Writing Inversions With Roman Numerals, Step by Step
How to write chord inversions with Roman numerals: case for quality, symbols for diminished and augmented, fig…
Chord Training That Feels Like a Game
Interactive chord training in your browser. Play major, minor, 7th and extended chords on a MIDI keyboard or a…
Master All 12 Major Chords on Piano
Every major chord on piano with notes and fingering, plus an interactive game that drills all 12 until they ar…