Hi guys,

Can any of you help me out with the figured bases that you have to do for grade 6 theory? I understand the inversions etc but I have trouble putting them into practise on a piece of music like we have to do in Music Theory In Practise and in the exam. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx,

Lizzie

Hello Lizzie Purple-Dolphin

What are you stuck on? I hope the below will clear it up, but post again if it doesn't (all examples assume we're in C major, and I've used a / to differentiate the top and bottom figures of the figuring):

5/3 = root position. Underneath a C this would give a chord of C major in root position (count up a third and a fifth from the bass note).
6/3 = first inversion. Underneath a C this would give a chord of A minor in first inversion (count up a third and a sixth from the bass note).
6/4 = second inversion. Underneath a C this would give a chord of F major in second inversion (count up a fourth and a sixth from the bass note).

First inversion is often just abbreviated to 6; if there's nothing then it's a root position chord.

I promise it gets easier with practice, even when you start including suspensions

Best wishes

Deborah