What is voice leading and how does it improve my chords?
Q&A
Jan 22, 2026
Voice leading is the smooth movement of individual notes from one chord to another by minimizing the distance between notes in your progression, making it feel more fluid and cohesive. I show you how to use chord inversions (first and second) to keep notes closer together instead of having your hand jump large distances on the keyboard. For example, when moving from C minor to F minor, I take the fifth from the F minor chord and drop it down an octave using a second inversion, bringing the notes much closer together for a smoother transition.
Post adapted from the video below:
I teach voice leading and chord inversions in depth in my music theory courses at Futureproof Music School, where you can master these techniques hands-on in your DAW. Check out futureproofmusicschool.com to start building better chord progressions today.
What is voice leading and how does it improve my chords?
Voice leading is the smooth movement of individual notes from one chord to another, where you keep the distance between notes as minimal as possible. It makes your chord progressions feel more fluid and cohesive instead of jumpy.
How do I know which chord inversion to use in my progression?
I recommend experimenting with all the different inversions and seeing what sounds best to you. The goal is to minimize the distance your hand would have to jump on a piano, which creates smoother transitions.
What's the difference between first and second inversion?
First inversion puts the third (middle note) at the bottom of the chord, while second inversion puts the fifth at the bottom. At Futureproof Music School, I teach students to use these inversions to create better voice leading in their progressions.
Dubstep pioneer and touring artist with millions of streams. Known for his heavy bass drops and intricate sound design, Max has released on major labels and performed at festivals worldwide.