Teach Yourself Music Theory – 31.) Figured-Bass and Lead-Sheet Notation

Even though we have been using the staff and writing notes to communicate which notes to play, there are other ways of notating music.

The first way we are going to talk about is figured-bass, which is a more “classical music way” of using Roman numerals and symbols to notate what chords to play in relation to the key.  To notate with figured-bass, you take the following steps:

• Start by finding the key that you are in (with the example below, we are in C major)
• Next, determine the chord harmonies with their qualities and inversion
• Place a Roman numeral underneath each chord, with the numeric value corresponding to the root of the chord in relation to the kay
• If it is a major triad, use uppercase letters
• If it is a minor triad, use lowercase letters
• If it is a diminished triad, use lowercase letters plus an “ o “ symbol
• If it is an augmented triad, use uppercase letters plus a “ + “ symbol
• Finally, add extra figures if inverted
• If it is in first inversion, add a “ 6 “
• If it is in second inversion, add a “ 6 “ with a “ 4 “ below it

Notice how the “ 6 “ and “ 4 “ correspond to the interval made with the root during an inversion.

Another way is lead-sheet, which is a way commonly found in jazz, pop, and rock tunes of writing out the letter names, chord qualities, as well as inversions of the harmonies.  To notate in a lead-sheet style, you take the following steps:

• Determine the root of the chord and write it in an uppercase letter above the chord
• If it is a major triad, do nothing more for its chord quality
• If it is a minor triad, add “ min “
• If it is a diminished triad, add an “ o “ symbol
• If it is an augmented triad, add a “ + “ symbol
• Finally, add extra figures if inverted
• Add a slash mark “ / “ and write the bass note after it

Tah-dah!  There you have it.  Give it some practice, but we will be using these forms of communicating and writing for now on.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read! Feel free to comment, share, and subscribe for more daily tips below! Till next time.