Figured Bass for Dummies
noun
pronunciation: 'fɪɡjərd_bæsWhat does Figured Bass really mean?
Alright, so "figured bass" is a pretty cool term that's used in music. It's kind of like a secret code that musicians use to figure out what chords to play, especially in the Baroque period. Basically, it's a way to show which notes should be played along with a bass note, hence the name "figured bass."
Imagine if you're playing a game and you have a cheat code that helps you win, that's kind of like what figured bass is. It's like a cheat code for playing music, it helps musicians know which chords to play along with the bass note.
So, let's say you have a bass note which is like the foundation of a house, "figured bass" tells you what other notes you can add to build the walls and ceiling of the house, if that makes sense. It's like adding colors to a coloring book, the bass note is the outline, and the figured bass tells you where to add colors to make the picture complete.
In a more technical sense, "figured bass" is a musical notation that uses numbers and symbols to show which intervals and chords should be played above a given bass note. It was used a lot during the Baroque period, when composers like Bach and Handel were writing music. They would write a bass line and then add the figured bass symbols to show the other musicians what chords and notes to play along with it.
So, that's the kind of the simple way to think about it. Hope that helps!
Imagine if you're playing a game and you have a cheat code that helps you win, that's kind of like what figured bass is. It's like a cheat code for playing music, it helps musicians know which chords to play along with the bass note.
So, let's say you have a bass note which is like the foundation of a house, "figured bass" tells you what other notes you can add to build the walls and ceiling of the house, if that makes sense. It's like adding colors to a coloring book, the bass note is the outline, and the figured bass tells you where to add colors to make the picture complete.
In a more technical sense, "figured bass" is a musical notation that uses numbers and symbols to show which intervals and chords should be played above a given bass note. It was used a lot during the Baroque period, when composers like Bach and Handel were writing music. They would write a bass line and then add the figured bass symbols to show the other musicians what chords and notes to play along with it.
So, that's the kind of the simple way to think about it. Hope that helps!
Revised and Fact checked by Robert Taylor on 2023-11-15 15:06:39
Figured Bass In a sentece
Learn how to use Figured Bass inside a sentece
- In music class, we learned that figured bass is a system of shorthand symbols that help musicians understand and play music written during the Baroque period.
- When a musician sees the numbers and symbols below the bass line in a piece of music, they can use figured bass to improvise or create their own accompaniment.
- Figured bass is like a roadmap for musicians, showing them which chords to play and in what order, based on the notes in the bass line.
- By using figured bass, composers and performers can add their own personal touch to the music, making each performance unique.
- During the Baroque era, composers like Bach and Handel used figured bass to write music that left room for musicians to add their own interpretations and flourishes.
Figured Bass Synonyms
Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.
Figured Bass Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.