Topmusicanswers
- How do you read a figured bass symbol?
- What do figured bass symbols represent?
- What do the numbers in figured bass mean?
- What does a 9 mean in figured bass?
How do you read a figured bass symbol?
How to Read and Write Figured Bass
- If the bass note is the root of a Seventh chord, then there is a “7” written below it.
- If the bass note is the 3rd of a Seventh chord, then there is a “6 5” written below it.
- If the bass note is the 5th of a Seventh chord, then there is a “4 3” written below it.
What do figured bass symbols represent?
Figured bass symbols indicate intervals above the bass. They come from the old practice of thorough bass: composers wrote bass line and figures. The part was played by the cello player and the keyboard (continuo) player who realized the chords, filling in the harmonies.
What do the numbers in figured bass mean?
These numbers stood for intervals — specifically, the intervals to be found above the written bass note. Usually, the intervals given would correspond to those found in a typical triad or 7th chord. ... For example, the figured bass “3” can mean a 3rd, or a 10th or a 17th, etc. — the choice is up to the player.
What does a 9 mean in figured bass?
However, in figured bass only the typical triad is implied unless otherwise noted so just putting the 9 would make the harmony add9 instead of dominant 9. So yes it is telling you along with the typical triad built from the scale and there is also a 7th and 9th in the harmony.
