Composers will often arrange the notes of a chord in numerous ways in order to vary its sound. This process is called voicing.
To demonstrate this, we will voice an F major triad in root position.
Notice that we can arrange the notes in any order as long as F, A, and C are used and F is the lowest note.
Play and listen to these examples.
Next, we will voice an F major triad in first inversion.
By definition, a chord is in first inversion when the third is the lowest note. Thus, we need to make sure that each of our voicings uses A for the bottom note.
Play and listen to these examples.
Finally, we will voice an F major triad in second inversion.
The process is the same; however, we must be certain that the fifth (C) is used as the lowest note.
Play and listen to the final examples.