What does figured bass mean?

Definitions for figured bass
beɪsfig·ured bass

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word figured bass.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. figured bass, basso continuo, continuo, thorough bassnoun

    a bass part written out in full and accompanied by numbers to indicate the chords to be played

Wiktionary

  1. figured bassnoun

    A musical notation in which intervals, chords and harmonizations are indicated by numbers written below a given bass note.

Wikipedia

  1. Figured bass

    Figured bass is musical notation in which numerals and symbols appear above or below (or next to) a bass note. The numerals and symbols (often accidentals) indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones that a musician playing piano, harpsichord, organ, or lute (or other instruments capable of playing chords) should play in relation to the bass note. Figured bass is closely associated with basso continuo: a historically improvised accompaniment used in almost all genres of music in the Baroque period of Classical music (c. 1600–1750), though rarely in modern music. Figured bass is also known as thoroughbass. Other systems for denoting or representing chords include plain staff notation, used in classical music; Roman numerals, commonly used in harmonic analysis; chord letters, sometimes used in modern musicology; the Nashville Number System; and various chord names and symbols used in jazz and popular music (e.g., C Major or simply C; D minor, Dm, or D−; G7, etc.).

ChatGPT

  1. figured bass

    Figured bass, also known as thoroughbass, is a musical notation system used in the Baroque era (approximately 1600 to 1750). It consists of a bass line only, written on a staff, with numbers (figures) underneath that specify certain chords, intervals, or non-chord tones to be played above the bass note, indicating the harmonic progression. It was primarily used as a guide for performers, particularly keyboard or lute players, offering a basic structure that could be embellished or improvised upon.

Matched Categories

How to pronounce figured bass?

How to say figured bass in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of figured bass in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of figured bass in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3


Translations for figured bass

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for figured bass »

Translation

Find a translation for the figured bass definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"figured bass." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/figured+bass>.

Discuss these figured bass definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for figured bass? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Image or illustration of

    figured bass

    Credit »

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Browse Definitions.net

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    add details, as to an account or idea
    A abrade
    B abet
    C lucubrate
    D knead

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for figured bass: