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16.2: Figured Bass Inversion Symbols

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    16.2 Figured Bass Inversion Symbols

    Following are the figured bass inversion symbols most commonly used for triads and seventh chords. (Remember that figured bass numbers represent intervals above the bass note within the key signature.)

    figured-bass-for-triads.svg

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Figured Bass Inversion Symbols for Triads

    figured-bass-for-seventh-chords.svg

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Figured Bass Inversion Symbols for Seventh Chords

    Unlike original figured bass notation in the Baroque era, in music theory courses, figured bass inversion symbols are placed after Roman numerals.

    Compare figured bass symbols to the modified slash notation we have been using in previous chapters.

    figured-bass-vs-modified-slash.svg

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Roman Numerals with Figured Bass versus Roman Numerals with Modifed Slash Notation

    Because the figures 56, 34, and 24 are only used for seventh chords, the “7” is omitted when labeling inverted seventh chords.

    figured-bass-dont-use-7-with-inversion.svg

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): “7” is not included when 7th chords are inverted

    Notice that it is essential with seventh chords to include symbols like “M” (for a major seventh chord) and ∘ and øø before the figured bass numbers and after the Roman numeral.

    figured-bass-7ths-in-staff.svg

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\):

    This page titled 16.2: Figured Bass Inversion Symbols is shared under a GNU Free Documentation License 1.3 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Robert Hutchinson via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.