Are there any rules governing the positioning of left hand chords? Root, 1st inv, 2nd inv, etc?

Well, I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for, so I'll enture a guess.

Root position chords are stacked third+third
1st inversion chords are stacked third+fourth
2nd inversion chords are stacked fourth+third

The name of the chord is always based on what the bottom note is in root position, no matter the inversion it may be in. For example, a chord spelled EGC from the bottom up is still a C major chord, in first inversion. Does that answer your question?

What is your question? Rules?

If a chord has the tonic on the bottom, then the third, then the fifth, it's in root position.

If a chord has the third on the bottom, then the fifth, then the tonic, it's in first inversion, etc.

What do you mean by "rules"?

Regards,

well if your playing one chord that is split between both hands, you wouldn't really want more than an octave between the hands.

Hi there. The question is a bit vague, but it looks like our colleagues are trying to answer anyway... and they're doing a good job.

I'll just add that chords sound great in a closed position within the 'octave and a bit' range below mid C. After that, they get a bit clumpy. In jazz, ideal chord voicings of any inversion work well close to the middle C area. I hope we're all giving you the information that you seek.

Not true. When I play jazz solo piano, I'm typically playing 1/7 on the LH, with 3/5/9 on the right on most chords. So that's two octaves plus an extension. The idea is in fact to spread it out to utilize multiple registers.

I think vanityx3 meant there shouldn't be an "unused" octave between the left hand thumb and the right hand thumb. So don't spread the tones out too much (with exceptions, of course).

sorry. misunderstood.

Are you trying to balance the tone? If this is the case, try softening the middle of the chords and play the root and tonic or octave with a little bit more emphasis. This makes the chords sound less clumpy and cloddy.

John