Figure 5/4
The figure 5/4 should be treated like a 4-3 suspension. Of the two numbers in this figure, the 4th is the suspended dissonant note, and the 5th is the 5th …
Suspensions (Figured Bass, 3-Part)
4-3 Suspension The figure 4-3 shows a suspension of a 4th within a root position chord. The 4th then resolves downwards to the 3rd. When you are realising a figured …
Figured Bass (Review)
The following figures were covered at ABRSM Grade 7. Here is a quick review: 7th Chords The figuring of added 7th chords was covered at grade 7, but here’s a …
Q1 | Getting Top Marks (ABRSM Grade 7)
Getting Top Marks In order to get full marks for the figured bass question at grade 7, it’s normally necessary to show some initiative. There will be places where a …
Q1 | Problem Areas (ABRSM Grade 7)
Problem Areas In this lesson we will focus on some particularly problematic areas of figuring a bass in Question 1 of the ABRSM Grade 7 Music Theory exam paper. Accented …
Q1 | Figuring a Bass Line (ABRSM Grade 7)
Figuring a Bass Line In question 1 of the ABRSM Grade 7 music theory exam, you need to work out the figures which belong to the combined bass and soprano …
Added 9th Chords
In figured bass, the number 9 is used to show a dissonance of a 9th above the bass. The rest of the chord will be the root position chord built …
Figure 4 (Figured Bass)
Occasionally you may see the figure 4 used by itself (without a 3). You should interpret it as a suspended 4th in the normal way, as far as possible. This …
Suspensions (Figured Bass)
Suspensions The only suspension figure that might appear in Question 1 is the 4-3 [1]. The figure 4-3 shows a suspension of a 4th within a root position chord. The …
Added 7th Chords (Figured Bass)
There are four figures used for added 7th chords, one for each of the inversions. Root position 7th chords are written as 7, which is short for 7/5/3. First inversion …