MUSIC THEORY - figured bass notation

in #music8 years ago (edited)

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The figured bass notation, or thorough bass, is the first chord writing, founded around 1600, and was meant to be used as abbreviation and handle script for the harpsichord, organ and sometimes the chitarrone or lute. This improvisation practice is called the basso continuo-play. The numbers beneath the bassline give the ladders intervals which is played on, without making clear which degree the chord has or if they are in closed or open (and maybe wide) position. This practice was ditched in the course of the 18th century.
The next rules are used by decoding the continuous bass:

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  1. The lack of a number under a note means to play the tertiary and fifth, by means a ladders triad in root position.
  2. The adding of a number 3, 5 or 8 is also a root position, but with the given number as soprano.
  3. A single accidental is used for the tertiary
  4. 6 means; a sext instead of fifth, in combination with the tertiary. When you also want to have the fifth into the chord, you’ll see a 5 beneath the 6 (First inversion seventh)
  5. 4 means; a fourth instead of the tertiary. When you also want to have the tertiary, you’ll see a 3 beneath the 4 (Second inversion seventh)
  6. Augmentations and diminishes are stated by a 8, 7 or 9 behind the number. Sometimes a slash is used / through the number.
  7. Abbreviations are useful, so no 3’s in the first inversion seventh and second inversion seventh and just a 2 for the third inversion seventh
  8. A horizontal line means going on with the same chord by changing bass tone
  9. A slash means that the chord of the next bass tone is played on the current bass tone.
  10. An ‘O’ or ‘t.s.’ (tasto solo) means a break of the uppervoices; the bass tone is heard alone.
  11. Numbers beneath rest signs, means the playing of the following chord starting in the rest.

Yours Sincerely @inMusicalTerms

P.s.: check also out my last article about the genre (Roots) Reggae: https://steemit.com/music/@inmusicalterms/roots-reggae-the-genre

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