Chords are more than just a collection of intervals! You know from Chapter 8 that chords have their origins in scales and melodies. You need to look at two more aspects in order to understand chords in their entirety: seventh chords and chord inversions. Seventh chords are the next logical step after you understand triads and are used extensively in music throughout the ages. Inversions allow your chords to move smoothly and efficiently from one chord to the next; this is the foundation for voice leading.