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Figured Bass is a method for indicating chords which was widely used in the Baroque period. The chords were 'realised' by a harpsichord player using just the bass line and the numbers (figures) below it. He knew the rules by which the numbers stood for certain chords. At Grade 6 you need only these chords which we will introduce gradually.
The numbers represent intervals above the bass note given in any situation. The upper set shows the complete figuring which was seldom (if ever) used. The lower set of figures show the usual abbreviations used in Baroque music; in other words, some of the numbers were taken for granted, although they might be found in some situations.
Here is what some Figured bass would look like.
It might be played like this.
Matching figures to chords
The example above contains chords in Root Position, and First and Second Inversion.
What are the figures for each chord? See if you can match the correct figures to each chord.
5 = Root 6
= First 6
= Second 3 Position 3
Inversion 4
Inversion Both numbers usually omitted
3 usually omitted
Both numbers needed
Look at the first chord of bar 2. Since the lowest note is an F and the full figuring [in the answer] contains both a 6 and a 3 this tells us we need a note which is a 6th above F and another which is a 3rd above F. So we need a D and an A in this chord. The figure '3' is taken for granted and the usual figuring for a 1st inversion is just '6'.
When you see a '6' you are really saying, "What chord (in this key) has this bass note as the middle note of the original triad. In this case, F is the middle note of the original triad if we 'undo' the inversion. Later, you will have no problem just adding a 6th and a 3rd above the bass note; these notes need to occur in the key indicated by the key signature.
If we want a 2nd inversion chord we must write the 4 beneath the 6. The '4' is not optional!
The second chord of bar 3 [below] has an F# at the bottom, because the music briefly modulates.
You do not need to work out that this is chord Vb in G major. All you need to see is that it is a chord built from D (a 6th above F - ignore the sharp), F# (given) and A (a 3rd above F). Since the middle of these notes is at the bottom it is in 1st inversion and is another '6' chord. So you see, you don't have to worry that D is a minor 6th above F# and A is a minor 3rd above F#. Just do what the numbers tell you and check the key signature.
EXERCISE 1
On the exercise sheet you are to write chords in root, 1st or 2nd inversion as required by the figures. If there are no figures then a root position chord in needed.
You will find it helpful to realise that the notes you will be adding do not need to occur in the order suggested by the figures. So long as the two missing notes of the triad are present in your answer (above the bass note supplied) then you will have written the correct chord. For example both solutions below are perfectly good 1st inversion chords although the notes occur in a different order with the 'A' at the bottom in both cases.
Print off the PDF file from HERE and follow the instructions.
Here, ALL the chords are figured but this is not necessary.
The second example shows what the accepted figuring is.
If there are no figures, the chord is in root position.
This page was last edited on 22/07/2008
