| Even many musicians haven't heard of figured bass. | | | | this period such as had not previously been heard. |
| Also called basso continuo, a simple explanation of | | | | The more complex nature of Baroque music made a |
| the term is a short way to note chords on a musical | | | | new form of musical notation a necessity. This is |
| score. If you have never heard of it, it's most likely | | | | how figured bass was born. Playing music by reading |
| because the method isn't used today. However, it | | | | figured bass required more than rudimentary musical |
| could be considered akin to, or a precursor of, a | | | | skills. With this method, the melody line and the bass |
| modern chord chart. | | | | line are noted on a traditional musical scale (bass clef |
| Figured bass originated in the Baroque era of the17th | | | | and treble clef). The instrumentalist(s) would fill in the |
| and 18th century. Music has evolved over the | | | | harmony lines based on the bass note. The harmony |
| centuries and still does today. The development of | | | | part, or the part that was implied but not written in |
| figured bass came in response to one of these early | | | | the score, was known as the continuo. |
| musical style evolutions. The Baroque music period | | | | To play figured bass, it is necessary to have a |
| came on the heels of the Renaissance period. Music | | | | working understanding of chords. An instrumentalist |
| from the Renaissance was generally characterized by | | | | reading a score with figured bass would see the |
| its reliance upon intervals of thirds. Of course, musical | | | | melody notes and the bass notes. The instrumentalist |
| trends evolve over a period of time. For this reason, | | | | would assume that the continuo notes that would |
| it's difficult to pinpoint an exact year when this trend | | | | accompany would be a standard fifth interval unless |
| shifted. Usually a new musical era is well under way | | | | otherwise noted. If another variation was desired, |
| before anyone realizes there has been a change. | | | | numbers would appear on the score underneath the |
| Modal characteristics of Renaissance music eventually | | | | bass note indicating the appropriate interval. |
| gave way to more tonal music. The defining | | | | Like many trends, the use of the figured bass |
| characteristic of tonal music is its use of fifths. This is | | | | method became obsolete. Today, chords are often |
| in contrast to the previous intervals of thirds. This led | | | | indicated by abbreviating their names (i.e.,"C7" for a C |
| the way for Baroque style music. | | | | major/minor seventh chord). Similar to figured bass, |
| Composers and musicians in this period began using | | | | instrumentalists have some leeway for improvisation |
| more elaborate instrumentation during the Baroque | | | | with this type of musical annotation. This is in |
| period. New musical instruments were being | | | | contrast to music that has every note for each part |
| developed that contributed to the trend. Many of | | | | annotated on a musical staff. Like shorthand once |
| them had wider range capabilities, allowing for more | | | | was to writing, so was figured bass to music. And |
| variety in musical scores. New playing techniques | | | | like shorthand, changes in technology and trends |
| were also developed, lending a distinction to music of | | | | have greatly diminished the use of figured bass. |