Chords are more than just a collection of intervals! You know from Chapter 7 that chords have their origins in scales and melodies. To understand chords in their entirety, however, you need to look at two more aspects: seventh chords and chord inversions. Used extensively in music throughout the ages, seventh chords are the next logical step after you understand triads. Inversions allow chords to move smoothly and efficiently from one chord to the next; this is the foundation for voice leading.