Figured Bass
Figured bass originated in the Baroque period. In Baroque scores the bass was notated and the upper voices of the bass were improvised based on symbols written below or above each note. The intervals are represented by numbers that indicate which intervals are to be played above the bass note to make chords. No further details are given, but the style of music and the performer will influence how the figured bass is interpreted.
When playing or writing figured bass use chord tones that fall within the key unless an accidental appears. Accidentals appear by themselves or next to a number.
The root of the chord does not have to be the bass not of the chord and the chord can appear as either of the inversions and can be represented to indicate that using different combinations of numbers.
Figured Bass Representations
- Root Position: Represented by the numerals 5 and 3 [often left out]
- First Inversion: Represented by the numerals 6 and 3
- Second Inversion: Represented by the numerals 6 and 4
- The higher number always appears on the top, and the lower number always appears on the bottom
- The first inversion has an interval of a fourth in the upper voices, while the second inversion has an interval of a fourth in the lower voices.
Figured Bass with Accidentals
- Accidentals that appear by themselves affect the notes a third above the bass even if that note is not the third of the chord.
- Accidentals that appear next to a number alter that specific note.
- A slash through a number means to raise the note with a sharp or natural sign depending on the key.
Lead-Sheet Notation
Lead-Sheets use shorthand notation to give the musician information about the root, quality and bass note of a chord so that they have all the information necessary to improvise. When the bass note is different from the root note of a chord slash notation is used. “Slash notation” gives the main information about the chord first, followed by the bass note – F/A would indicate the F Major triad with A as the bass note. “Slash notation” can also be used when a note outside the triad appears in the bass, such as G/C: a G major chord with a C in the bass.
Inversions
One of the keys to working with figured bass and lead-sheet notation is knowing your inversions because you could get chords in any inversion at any time. Below is an exercise play Bb Major and G minor in all three inversions.