Text: The transposition of certain phrases having a common root. There are three kinds of inversions in music ­ 1) of chords; 2) of intervals; 3) of subjects. 1) The inversion of a chord is effected by making one of the inner notes act as a bass note, and by this means as many inversions can be made, as there are actual notes in the chord, not counting the root. In such inversions the harmony remains the same, although the order of component parts is changed. 2) Intervals are inverted by making that which was the upper note the lower, and the reverse. The inversion of an interval within the octave may readily be found in the difference between the figure 9 and the interval known; thus an interval of a second becomes a seventh by inversion, etc. 3) The inversion of a subject is produced by inverting the intervals of which it consists.

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Source: 125