Hello,
Could anyone tell me what a'5' on its own means in figured bass (not a 5/3)?
Full Version: Figured Bass
QUOTE(faureforever @ May 16 2010, 11:56 AM) 
Hello,
Could anyone tell me what a'5' on its own means in figured bass (not a 5/3)?
I have an idea that it is usually either before or after a single 6, where the base note doesn't change, so from 63 to 53 or vice versa over a held base note.
Reckon Clavicembalo is correct - see extract below:
Sometimes the figured bass number changes but the bass note itself does not. In these cases the new figures are written wherever in the bar they are meant to occur. In the following example, the top line is supposed to be a melody instrument and is given merely to indicate the rhythm (it is not part of the figured bass itself):
Sometimes the figured bass number changes but the bass note itself does not. In these cases the new figures are written wherever in the bar they are meant to occur. In the following example, the top line is supposed to be a melody instrument and is given merely to indicate the rhythm (it is not part of the figured bass itself):
ooo dear, in this case the'5' is preceeded by a 6/5 and the followed by a 9 - 8 suspension, so the progression is 6/5, 5, 9 - 8 and tha bass note does change.....any ideas?
From the few examples that I have been able to find within either Workbooks or MTIP, the single 5s (few and far between) seem to coincide either with held base notes, with tied notes or note values that extend beyond a beat e.g. base descending in crotchets whilst instrument above holds a dotted crotchet.
Do be patient though, there are many on this forum whose command of Figured Bass is far greater than mine; let's hope someone comes along soon!
Do be patient though, there are many on this forum whose command of Figured Bass is far greater than mine; let's hope someone comes along soon!
I've been reading up and one suggestion is that it means the 5th (above the bass) should be in the soprano....has anyone else come across this ?
QUOTE(faureforever @ May 17 2010, 03:27 PM)
I've been reading up and one suggestion is that it means the 5th (above the bass) should be in the soprano....has anyone else come across this ?
Haven't come across this myself - I always thought that the continuo player who realised the figured bass was free to put the notes (3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th etc) where they wanted to suit the mood of the music.
Although root position chords (5/3) are normally not figured I think in the example you give it does mean that the 6/5 chord is followed by a root position chord.
QUOTE(cambiata @ May 17 2010, 06:19 PM)
I remember asking my teacher about a 5 on its own when I took my Grade 8 theory last Nov. It's annoying how quickly all the details have to be reviewed again having not carried on with working at this level for nearly six months! Anyway, I've found a quick scribbled note in my old notebook. It says 6/5 - 5 is always prepared as a suspension resolving by step. Not sure exactly what I meant now it's out of context but as the 6/5 is a first inversion dominant 7th chord the 5th above the bass is the 7th. Random example - in D major the 5 of 6/5 would be a C so the 5 on its own probably indicates the C must still be in the next chord before resolving by step on to the 3rd B which could be the 3rd of the following 9/8 chord. Does this work faureforever?
Yes, I think this makes sense now, thankyou very much for taking the time to reply
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