I am preparing a Basso continuo accompaniment for Haendel Sonata 367B "Andante", with a music notation a software. I already have it ready for the cello part.

But I would really love to be able to add some Harpsichord chords. They are ciphered on the score I have, with numbers like "6", "#", "6 over 5" and a few other combinations.

I know that I should study solfeggio a few years until I reach the right level and can do it myself. But unfortunately, I need it now.

I understand the basic concept, but I have not much idea of what the numbers and their combinations represent. The piece is in D major. A simple keyboard accompaniment should be enough such as one hand, 4 or 5 notes chord (or whatever is the minimum necessary).

I acknowledge this is a complicated question and probably a little out of scope for a flute forum, but maybe some of you could help me anyway.

I apologize for being so ignorant of theory and I am trying to change this, but for the moment I can only ask for help.

Thank you a lot.

That is figured bass notation. The numbers represent a note above the bass note. A 6 generally means a chord in first inversion. For instance, a C major chord (C-E-G) is what is required when you have an E in the Bass and a 6 listed as the number. C is a sixth above the bass note E..

Does that help?

Joe B

Oh yes, it does help a lot. Thank you.

Now, in total I have 12 different figures combinations

6 alone is present 24 times. But I know how to do this three notes chord!

Then I have:

# (the sharp sign) 14 times
a "dashed" 6 (the number with a kind of slash on its upper part) 5 times
7 alone two times
then are combinations of two numbers, one written on top of the other (I write the one on the top first:

6, 5 five times
6, 4 eight times
5, 4 just once
5, 3 three times
7, # one time
dashed 6, 5 one time
5, # one time
6, 5, # one time
4+, 2 one time

And that's it!

Is there a place in internet you know I could find a table for the meaning of the figured bass? (unless someone could add some more meanings... I already know how to put 24 chords in my BC, not bad...)

My own question gave me inspiration and found and I have found abn interesting article in Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figured_bass

I am studying this article and I hope I will be able to solve most, if not all, of the puzzle. But for what I read there, some times the numbers could be missing (being too obvious for the composer....but not for me!

Yes, I think you're getting it.

try this one too:
http://www.ars-nova.com/cpmanual/realizeharmony.htm

Joe B

Thanks.

I understand now how it works. One important thing is that all Bass notes should have their chord associated, not only those with numbers or signs. This makes the writing of the chords a lot of work, unless I can convince my music notation SW to do it for me (but I have been unable to do it, so far)...

For those who could be interested in the subject, the link below shows a useful table with all figure combination and their practical realizations

http://www.robertkelleyphd.com/FiguredBass.pdf

Sorry for reopening this thread, but I need some more help....urgently

Does anybody know a way to automatically translate the figured bass digits into chords that Finale could understand?

OK, I know, I should study Harmony, but I have no time for it right now

The problem is that I must add all chords to Haendel's 367b Vivace movement and entering the triads note by note is maddening slow, prone to errors and requires my reading of the F key and I am not much used to it.

It is not just for embellishment, my problem is that with just a synthesised cello for accompaniment I often lose the tempo and I hope the RH notes (which are figured in my score) could help in improving my playing.

I am finding too many difficulties in playing this movement with a pre-recorded accompaniment.

First time this happens, I have successfully tried a few other pieces, from Faure, Haydyn Schubert and even Haendel, but this one... and I am feeling very sad about this problem, as I love this movement and I had chosen to play it in my audition in June!

thanks for any help!