Figured Bass, Grade 6 theory Options

[Carl]

I am having problems despite having had it explained twice how to write figured bass. I can't remember how to work out what chords to write. It seemed so clear in my lesson yesterday! If the bass note is F and 5 is written underneath what are the other notes above it?

[Rosemary7391]

Basically you count up a fith from the bass note. Others are sometimes assumed, noteably a third.

[sbhoa]

The figures are intervals above the bass note.
So a 5/3 (mostly not figured) would be the bass note plus the 3rd and 5th above (a root position chord).
6/4 is the bass plus the 4th and 6th above.

Hope that helps a bit.

[Carl]

The figures are intervals above the bass note.
So a 5/3 (mostly not figured) would be the bass note plus the 3rd and 5th above (a root position chord).
6/4 is the bass plus the 4th and 6th above.

Hope that helps a bit.

Yes thank you both for that. I will try and get on with it now. For some reason I am finding this really complicated

[Rosemary7391]

It is complicated - you'll get used to it!

[Max]

It's really useful to copy the bass line and the figures onto some manuscript paper (which you will be given in the exam) then just count the numbers up from the bass and write it on the stave. That way you can ensure that you have all the notes you need when you write your realisation. But don't forget the abbreviations sometimes used.

[kat the cobbler]

Sorry to bump this thread.

i've just started looking at the grade 6 theory book and i just don't get it. I've read what it says in the workbook and what it says in the AB guide and it's just not making any sense. Can someone explain it to me in english please (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[sbhoa]

The figures are intervals from the bass note which you translate into chords.

So if you have 5/3 under a C the other notes in the chord will be E (3 above) and G (5 above).
If you have 6/4 under the C the other notes will be F and A.
Start by pencilling in these notes so you know what chords to use.
They don't have to be in that order in the finished working... you have to learn how to jiggle the parts around so as not to break any of the rules for that sort of harmony.

[Alicia Ocean]

The thing to stress is that only three figures are needed to be known for grade 6. It's a big subject
and it's best to focus on what's needed rather than be swamped with information.

Here's I diagram I devised for teaching

It shows three inversions of the same chord on the top line. The next line shows how they would be
fully labled in figured bass and the bottom line the shortened figured bass notation.

(IMG:http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z132/AliciaOcean/FiguredBass-1.jpg)


(sorry - I don't know how to make the page smaller)

[Richard]

Can someone tell me, why, if you have a teacher, you are asking questions relating to these exams....Any teacher who has completed G8, theory, + a diploma, and degree, should give you the answers, if you cannot get them from your teacher, maybe you should look elswhere. Sorry to be so blunt, but I studied music for over 30 yrs, have a MU, and 2 diplomas, plus 4 grade 6's in alternative instruments, so if you teach, you must have at least one of the above, and be able to help your students...If you can't, then why do you persist in taking money from people who are taking in from lies..!!!!!!!....
I get so upset when people that have passed G5, think they can teach, it leads to sub standard students coming through the ranks, hence........Someone comment......

[carol*piano]

Can someone tell me, why, if you have a teacher, you are asking questions relating to these exams....Any teacher who has completed G8, theory, + a diploma, and degree, should give you the answers, if you cannot get them from your teacher, maybe you should look elswhere. Sorry to be so blunt, but I studied music for over 30 yrs, have a MU, and 2 diplomas, plus 4 grade 6's in alternative instruments, so if you teach, you must have at least one of the above, and be able to help your students...If you can't, then why do you persist in taking money from people who are taking in from lies..!!!!!!!....
I get so upset when people that have passed G5, think they can teach, it leads to sub standard students coming through the ranks, hence........Someone comment......

Steady on Richard - breathe... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I think you'll find quite a lot of the people on these threads are just working through it themselves for fun, or with an aim to put themselves through the exam.

[Alicia Ocean]

Did I miss something? Is Carl's teacher unqualified? Or did Carl simply understand what he was shown in his lesson then have a sleep & now needs a friendly voice on here to go over it again rather then wait till his next lesson?

[Kai-Lei]

I am only surprised that in a situation like this, the teacher didn't make the pupil work one or three examples before signing off the lesson. Adult students seem more demanding - spending their own money they won't let go the lesson until confident they have learned.

In Carl's position, best may be to learn what the figure combinations mean, and useful progressions like at Grade 6, a 6/4 is likely to be followed by a 5/3 on the same bass. The dominant 7ths are not too hard to learn if someone writes the inversions out in score with the figures. A 7 alone or 7/5/3 means root position. 6/5 is first inversion and 4/3 second inversion (or 6/4/3). If secondary sevenths are taught for grade 6 (I can't remember) they are the same.
An hour with pencil paper and a few triads will sort everything out. Also good to analyse a piece like an easy hymn into figured bass.

Kai

[kat the cobbler]

Oops have I opened a whole new can of worms by bumping this thread.

I don't have a teacher for theory (well not one that is accessible during the summer months) and as I was working through grade 6 at the moment I thought it would be better to ask.

In reply to teachers not knowing more than grade 5 theory, to be honest this is why I'm trying to work through the theory to the highest level I can. I want to teach when I finish uni and feel that I should know as much about the subject as I possibly can.

As for Carl's query, I have found with our tutors at uni that each one explains things differently (take modes for example, every tutor this year has explained it completely differently to the other) so it may be that he just didn't get it from his teacher whereas someone explaining it on here it might sink in a bit better.

[Richard]

Can someone tell me, why, if you have a teacher, you are asking questions relating to these exams....Any teacher who has completed G8, theory, + a diploma, and degree, should give you the answers, if you cannot get them from your teacher, maybe you should look elswhere. Sorry to be so blunt, but I studied music for over 30 yrs, have a MU, and 2 diplomas, plus 4 grade 6's in alternative instruments, so if you teach, you must have at least one of the above, and be able to help your students...If you can't, then why do you persist in taking money from people who are taking in from lies..!!!!!!!....
I get so upset when people that have passed G5, think they can teach, it leads to sub standard students coming through the ranks, hence........Someone comment......

Steady on Richard - breathe... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I think you'll find quite a lot of the people on these threads are just working through it themselves for fun, or with an aim to put themselves through the exam.

I am sorry if I came over all lah de dah..... I am so keen for people to learn and study music, sometimes it takes over the mind, so sorry to all if I offended in any way, but I will stand by what I said,..... If someone wants to teach a subject, they must be fully conversant in that subject, it is only the student that suffers if they are not.......Any how, there are so many books on this subject, teachers refer to them all the time, but if anybody really is interested in taking grade 6-8 theory, I will gladly help as much as I can.........Cheers peeps.....