Topmusicanswers
- How do you realize figured bass?
- What does realize the figured bass mean?
- What does it mean when there is a 7 in the figured bass?
- What are the benefits of figured bass?
How do you realize figured bass?
To realize a figured bass by writing down the actual notes to be played was (and is) a traditional exercise for students learning harmony and composition, and is used by music editors to make performing editions. It was rare for established composers of the Baroque era to write down realizations.
What does realize the figured bass mean?
"Realizing" a figured bass means "making it real" or, filling out the four-part harmony by adding a tenor, alto and soprano part.
What does it mean when there is a 7 in the figured bass?
A seventh chord in root position would be 7/5/3 if completely figured. In practice this is abbreviated to just "7." A seventh chord in first inversion would be 6/5/3, and is abbreviated to 6/5. A seventh chord in second inversion would be 6/4/3, and is abbreviated to 4/3.
What are the benefits of figured bass?
There are many benefits for introducing figured bass early. First, it prevents students from developing a false historical connection between figured bass and chordal inversion, encouraging students to learn it as a system of notation in its own right, not as a system of notating chordal inversions and suspensions.
