Learn › The 6/5 Chord: A Seventh Chord With Its 3rd in the Bass
New Released in April 2026
The 6/5 Chord: A Seventh Chord With Its 3rd in the Bass
When you see 6/5 next to a Roman numeral, the chord is a seventh chord in first inversion: its 3rd is the lowest note. V6/5 in C major is B D F G. It is one of the most used chords in classical harmony, mostly because of where that bass note wants to go.
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
Build any 6/5 in three steps
- Spell the seventh chord: V7 in C is G B D F.
- Move the root to the top: B D F G.
- Check from the bass: D is a 3rd, F a 5th, G a 6th above B. 6/5.
The two you will see most
V6/5: the leading tone sits in the bass and rises a half step to the tonic. In D major that is C# E G A going to D. ii6/5: in C major, F A C D. Its bass, the 4th degree, climbs to the 5th, so ii6/5 to V is a standard way into a cadence.
The 6/5 Chord: A Seventh Chord With Its 3rd in the Bass
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 demoSix-five in other keys
- G major: V6/5 = F# A C D.
- F major: V6/5 = E G Bb C.
- A minor: V6/5 = G# B D E (with the raised 7th).
- C major: ii6/5 = F A C D, IV6/5 = A C E F.
From the page to your hands
Because the root is on top, 6/5 shapes look strange the first few times. Play them slowly, then in a game where the chord name arrives and you must find it fast. ChordRunner counts any inversion of G7 as G7, so you can drill the 6/5 shape on a MIDI keyboard or a piano near the microphone without the game calling it wrong.
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 6/5 chord?
A seventh chord in first inversion. The 3rd is in the bass and the other notes are a 3rd, a 5th and a 6th above it. V6/5 in C is B D F G.
Where does V6/5 resolve?
To I in root position. The bass is the leading tone, which rises a half step to the tonic, and the 7th of the chord falls a step.
Is 6/5 the same as a 6/9 chord?
No. 6/5 is a figured bass sign for an inversion. A 6/9 chord is a pop chord symbol for a major chord with an added 6th and 9th.
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…