1. AP Music Theory Mr. Silvagni
Figured Bass
AP Music Theory
Mr. Silvagni

2. Figured Bass
Figured bass consists of the bass line and the Arabic numbers under the bass line (figures) that represent the intervals above the bass to be played. The voicing of the chord and the linear movement of each line is determined by the performer.

3. Figured Bass Major triads are written with capital roman numerals
Minor triads are written with lower case roman numerals
Diminished triads are written with lower case roman numerals and o
Augmented triads are written with capital roman numerals and +

4. Figured bass
Major 7th chords are written with capital roman numerals and a 7
Dominant 7th chords are written with capital roman numerals and a 7
Minor 7th chords are written with lower case roman numerals and a 7
Minor-major 7th chords are written with lower case roman numerals and a 7
Half diminished 7th – chords are written with lower case roman numerals and a ø7
Fully diminished 7th chords are written with lower case roman numerals and a o7
Augmented-major 7th chords are written with capital roman numerals and a +7

7. Inversions
Figured bass also includes Arabic numbers that identify the intervals from the bass notes to the other voices
A root position chord is a chord with the root note in the bass. I53 means a third and a fifth interval exist over the bass note in another voice (C Major in root position has C in the bass and notes E [3rd] and G [5th] in another voice])

8. Inversions
A first inversion chord is a chord with the 3rd of the chord in the bass. I63 means a third and a sixth interval exist over the bass note in another voice (C Major in 1st inversion has E in the bass and notes G [3rd] and C [6th] in another voice])
A second inversion chord is a chord with the 5th of the chord in the bass. I64 means a fourth and a sixth interval exist over the bass note in another voice (C Major in 2nd inversion has G in the bass and notes C [4th] and E [6th] in another voice])

9. 7th Chord Inversions
A root position 7th chord is a chord with the root note in the bass. I7 53 means a third, a fifth, and a seventh interval exist over the bass note in another voice (C Major7 in root position has C in the bass and notes E [3rd], G [5th], and B [7th] in another voice])
A first inversion 7th chord is a chord with the 3rd of the chord in the bass. I6 53 means a third, a fifth, and a sixth interval exist over the bass note in another voice (C Major7 in 1st inversion has E in the bass and notes G [3rd], B [5th], and C [6th] in another voice])

10. 7th Chord Inversions
A second inversion 7th chord is a chord with the 5th of the chord in the bass. I6 43 means a third, a fourth, and a sixth interval exist over the bass note in another voice (C Major7 in 2nd inversion has G in the bass and notes B [3rd], C [4th], and E [6th] in another voice])
A third inversion 7th chord is a chord with the 7th of the chord in the bass. I6 42 means a second, a fourth, and a sixth interval exist over the bass note in another voice (C Major7 in 3rd inversion has B in the bass and notes C [2nd], E [4th], and G [6th] in another voice])

11. Inversions
“An easy way to remember the inversion symbols is to think of all of them connected like a phone number I call the INVERSION HOTLINE: ”
1st triad – 6
2nd triad – 64
Root 7th – 7
1st 7th – 65
2nd 7th – 43
3rd 7th - 42

12. Realization of Figured Bass