Hobbies Playing Music The Definition of "Root Note" Share PINTEREST Email Print Playing Music Playing Piano Tutorials Piano Chords Buying Advice Music Education Playing Guitar Home Recording By Brandy Kraemer Updated March 04, 2019 The root note is the pitch upon which a chord is based; the fundamental note on top of which the intervals of a chord are built. A chord is named after its root note (see keynote). Look at the intervals in a G major chord: Root: G Major Third: B Perfect Fifth: D However, even though the root note acts as the tonal foundation of a chord, it’s not always the bottom note (or “bass”): G Major Root Position: G - B - D G Major 1st Inversion: B - D - G G Major 2nd Inversion: D - G - B G remains the root in each chord inversion, despite its location. G major in the 2nd inversion has D as the bass, but this does not make it a D major chord (which would be D - F# - A). Also Known As la fondamentale; basso fondamentale (It) la basse fondamentale (Fr) Grundton (Ger)