Hey everyone,

Topic Title says it all really...

I'm practising some grade 6 figured bass questions and the number 8 has appeared, what chord inversion is this?

My book explains all the chord inversions I've come across just not this one...

Thanks,
Lisa

I haven't studied figured bass yet, but I would assume that it means the octave, essentially the next tonic above.

Yes I thought so too...but, does that mean, if the chord was a G major, rooted in G, I must play a G an octave higher as part of the chord....anyone?

My guess is that there's a 9 just before it possibly linked with a - in between and that it indicates a 9-8 suspension.

Do you mean a 9 in the chord before it? Or 9 8 under the same chord? There is just an 8 - no 9 -in the question...ohhh, I'm soo confused.... who said G6 was easy...lol


(...the '8' chord in then followed by a 7 though, not that I have any clue what difference this might make...)

8-7 suspension?
I don't think that 8 on it's own makes any sense?

Did anyone say grade 6 was easy? Maybe only those who have studied that much harmony previously.

Thanks...only trouble is I dont know what to do with a suspension... is there any rule for suspensions in figured bass - how to use/resolve a suspension?

The suspension must stay in the same voice starting with the chord before (the preparation).
All other rules apply too.

Thanks very much for your help, I'll have a go at the question and see if I can answer it any better now!

Okay...not so hasty! hehe...

The chord I have is a D major - the bass note D is being held over 2 chords an 8 chord and 7 chord....in this case therefore the suspended note's D (?) - and is being held over 2 chords already(from the 8 to the 7 chord)...does it still need to be prepared in the chord before the 8 chord?...because that chord is an A minor and theredfore there is no D to prepare the coming D chord....

Does any of that make sense? Sorry to confuse things, but I am rather confused...

Can you tell me what exactly the note before is and the figuring?
Not being able to see I'm mostly guessing and a little bit rusty on this too.

You have a bass line with figures ....?

yes I have a bass line with figures...I'll try to explain the bar in which this occurs...

The bar is begins on the note of C with 6 5 writen underneath (as a fraction though like figured bass is) the next note is an A with 2 dashes under the stave (to indicate the 6 5 chord should be held over the A bass note?) the last notes of the bar is a D with an 8 under it follwed after a space by a 7...

Does this help any?

Ok...I think I have it, just found a similar example.

The key is G major?
The following bar has a G with no figures?
It appears to be a ii7b V7 I progression ... the 7 is added a beat later as a passing note.

Yes the key is G major, and the last bar has no figures...looks like we have the same question!


Yes it is a ii7b and V7 I progression....so all I do is add the 7th chord as a passing note? As for the 8 chord is that just a D in root position? When I write the full chord out must it have a D and octave higher than the D in the base or anything like that? Is there a difference between 3 5 and 8 then?

Put in the 7th OF the chord as a passing note in the same part as the D so you will have the notes D C B in the same part (works well in the sop.). There isn't a difference between a 5/3 and an 8... the 8 is only there because of the progression to the 7.
The D can go in whichever part you can make it work without breaking any of the usual rules.

Thank you so much for explaining! I understand what I have to do now and what the 8 means...looking at the question it makes much more sense..so thanks very much! This is why I love this forum so much, theres always someone to help you when you get stuck!