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
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
figured bassnoun
A musical notation in which intervals, chords and harmonizations are indicated by numbers written below a given bass note.
Wikipedia
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
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
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of figured bass in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of figured bass in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Translations for figured bass
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"figured bass." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 14 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/figured+bass>.
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