Suggested Learning Resources
(This video mentions some items that we will learn later... example, the cadential
6/4)
- Figured bass notation involves one line of music (the bass voice) as well
as numbers and symbols (figures) beneath those pitches.
- Realizing a figured bass means ‘filling in’ the other voices either by
playing them, or notating them.
- While the figured bass tells us what notes to use, the placement of those
pitches (in terms of voicing) can have multiple solutions.
- If there are no symbols below the bass note, we assume a root position
triad with the shown note as the root
- If there is a sharp, flat, or natural sign below the note with no other
numbers, we assume root position triad, and the accidental shown is applied to the
3rd above the bass note
- 6 indicates first inversion triad, with the shown note being the 3rd
- 6/4 indicates second inversion triad, with the shown note being the 5th
- 7 indicates a root position 7th chord, with the shown note being the root
- 6/5 indicates first inversion 7th chord, with the shown note being the
3rd
- 4/3 indicates a second inversion 7th chord, with the shown note being
the 5th
- 4/2 indicates a third inversion 7th chord, with the shown note being the
7th
- If there is a slash through a number, it indicates to raise the pitch
by one chromatic half step that is that interval above the shown bass.
https://youtu.be/7w_PwtPJ3xc
Objective 18.1: Correctly realize (notate) figured bass given the bass note, key,
and figures