Hear which inversion is in the bass
C, C/E, C/G. Slashmaster is the PRO quest mode that drills major and minor triads in root, 1st, and 2nd inversion - written as slash chords. The bass-line ear that powers pop voice leading, gospel piano, and clean transcription.
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The feature,
explained clearly
Slashmaster is a dedicated PRO quest mode that drills triad inversion recognition. Every exercise plays a major or minor triad in root, 1st, or 2nd inversion, and you pick the slash-chord notation that matches (e.g. for a C major triad: C, C/E, or C/G). The drill is laser-focused on the inversion ear - the skill behind every pop bass line and gospel voice-leading move.
All three inversions
Root position (e.g. C), 1st inversion with the 3rd in the bass (C/E), and 2nd inversion with the 5th in the bass (C/G). The complete inversion vocabulary for major and minor triads.
Major and minor triads
Each exercise uses a random major or minor triad in a random key. The three answer options are always the three inversions of that triad, so the question is purely "which inversion?"
Slash-chord notation
Inversions are presented as slash chords (C/E, Cm/G) - the way pop, gospel, and rhythm-section charts actually write them. Slashmaster teaches the ear and the symbol together.
Bass-note isolation
Identifying the inversion means hearing which chord tone is in the bass. Slashmaster trains you to focus on the bass note independently of the triad above it - most musicians cannot do this without practice.
Harmonic or melodic playback
Harmonic: all three notes together. Melodic: notes one by one, bass first. Switching between them mid-session is the fastest way to lock in the inversion sound.
Want hybrids and non-chord-tone bass?
Hybrids like F/G or Bb/C (where the bass note is not in the triad) are a different ear skill - those live in the Hybrid Lab quest mode. Slashmaster is specifically the inversion drill.
Three steps.
Repeated until it sticks.
Every Slashmaster exercise follows the same loop, with one question per voicing and three answer options.
Hear the triad
A major or minor triad plays automatically - in root position, 1st inversion, or 2nd inversion, in a random key. Tap to replay as a chord, or switch to melodic playback to hear the bass note first.
Pick the slash-chord notation
Three options appear: the three possible slash-chord spellings for that triad. For a C major triad they would be C (root), C/E (1st inversion), and C/G (2nd inversion). Pick the one you hear.
See the answer
Slashmaster highlights the correct notation, updates your streak, and loads the next triad. Wrong answers stay visible so you can compare and replay before moving on.
Skills you walk away with
Slashmaster trains one specific listening skill: hearing which chord tone is in the bass of a triad. That sounds narrow, but it is the difference between transcribing a pop tune correctly and getting the chords almost right.
Hear the bass note of a triad
Most musicians fuse the triad into one impression and ignore which chord tone sits at the bottom. Slashmaster forces the bass to the front of your ear.
Identify inversions instantly
Root, 1st inversion (3rd in bass), 2nd inversion (5th in bass) - by ear, without thinking. Critical for pop and gospel transcription where inversions dominate.
Read slash-chord notation fluently
Every inversion is presented as a slash chord (C/E, Am/C). After Slashmaster you stop seeing slash notation as a special case and start hearing it as the natural way to write a bass note.
Decode descending bass lines
A descending bass line under a static chord (Bach, gospel, Beatles, countless ballads) is just a sequence of inversions. Hearing them changes how you write progressions.
Hear voice leading by ear
Once you can isolate the bass, you start hearing how the bass moves between chords. That bass voice leading is what makes a progression flow.
Prepare for hybrids and polychords
Slashmaster builds the bass-note ear. Hybrid Lab and Polychordist then add bass notes that do not belong to the chord and second stacked triads. Slashmaster is the foundation those modes build on.
Daily reps.
Compound results.
Hearing the bass of a triad as a distinct thing is unfamiliar to most musicians, even strong ones. Daily Slashmaster reps build the muscle that lets you focus on the bass without losing the chord above - which transforms transcription and arrangement.
Regular chord recognition does not develop this
Chord drills teach quality (major, minor, diminished). They do not teach which chord tone is in the bass. Slashmaster is the dedicated drill for the inversion ear.
Pop and gospel transcription requires it
A pop tune with a descending bass line under static chords is a chain of inversions. Without bass-note hearing, you transcribe the chord but miss the bass and lose the whole feel.
Inversions dominate real music
Pianists and arrangers reach for inversions constantly for smooth voice leading. Most musicians hear root position much better than 1st or 2nd inversion - Slashmaster closes that gap.
The skill compounds quickly
After 2-3 weeks of daily Slashmaster, many users report hearing inversions in all music, not just exercises. Once the bass ear opens up, it stays open.
Not just jazz musicians
Slashmaster is a niche skill but the niche covers a lot of professional musicians.
Jazz pianists
Inversions are the backbone of clean voice leading. Slashmaster sharpens the bass-note ear that lets you transcribe and comp with intentional bass motion.
Pop and R&B musicians
Inversion-driven bass lines define so much pop. Bruno Mars, Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, half of gospel. Hearing inversions decodes the genre.
Gospel musicians
Gospel piano runs on inverted triads moving smoothly under the melody. Slashmaster trains exactly that bass-note ear, in the slash-chord notation gospel charts use.
Producers and arrangers
Hearing the bass line independently lets you write convincing voice leading. Modern pop production lives on intentional bass motion.
Songwriters
A descending bass line under a static chord is one of the strongest songwriting moves. Hearing it teaches you to write with it.
Classical musicians studying figured bass
Figured bass is essentially historical slash chord notation. Slashmaster trains the same ear skill on modern repertoire.
Free forever.
PRO when you want more.
Real free tier, not a trial. Practice Mode is open to everyone with a usable foundation library across Intervals, Chords, Scales, and Jazz Voicings - no daily cooldown.
Built so any serious musician can train their ears forever, free.
- Basic intervals, triads & major/minor scales
- Jazz Voicings game mode
- Practice Mode: free training for core intervals, triads, 7ths, major scale modes and basic jazz voicings
- 3 exercises per 8-hour window
- Basic stats and achievement badges
Or €59.99/year (~€5/mo, save 28%)
- Unlimited exercises (no cooldown)
- All intervals, chord types and scales (incl. 7ths, altered, modes)
- 6 advanced quest modes: Slashmaster, Functioneer, Harmonic Quest, Guido, Hybrid Lab, Polychordist
- Open Mic: answer by singing or playing into your microphone (mobile app)
- Practice Mode: full library of intervals, chord types, scales and voicing categories
- Advanced stats: per-quest-type analytics & session breakdowns
- Weekly Leagues with full history
- Full achievement & badge system
- All 8 instrument sounds (Rhodes, strings, harp, e-guitar, flute, clarinet, French horn)
- Priority support
Cancel anytime. No charge during PRO trial. Card only required at trial start.
What makes this
different
Dedicated inversion drill
Inversions are usually buried inside generic chord training, where one wrong inversion barely affects your score. Slashmaster makes them the only thing the drill grades on.
Slash-chord notation, not abstract labels
You pick the actual symbol (C/E, Am/C), not "1st inversion". Ear training that matches how musicians read and write inversions in real charts.
Tight, focused answer set
Three options per question - the three possible inversions of the triad you just heard. No padding, no distractors that do not belong. The drill stays fast and the feedback loop stays tight.
14-day PRO free trial
Try Slashmaster and all 6 quest modes free for two weeks. Cancel any time before the trial ends, no charge.
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