Activities Hobbies The Definition of "Root Note" Share PINTEREST Email Print Hobbies Playing Music Playing Piano Music Education Playing Guitar Home Recording Contests Couponing Freebies Frugal Living Fine Arts & Crafts Astrology Card Games & Gambling Cars & Motorcycles Learn More By Brandy Kraemer Updated on 03/03/19 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: GMajor Third: BPerfect 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)