A Simple Guide to Figured Bass
ContentsHow to use the Guide

A Simple Guide to Figured Bass

Gregory Hand · University of Iowa

Definitions

How to Practice Figured Bass

Transposition

Abbreviations

Accidentals

Suspensions

Doubling and Parallels

Basic Exercises & Sequences

Numeral lookup

If you're stumped by a figure, click one of the numerals in that figure below to find what it could mean

figures with the numeral1 figures with the numeral2 figures with the numeral3 figures with the numeral4 figures with the numeral5 figures with the numeral6 figures with the numeral7 figures with the numeral8 figures with the numeral9
This site aims to teach the basics of harmony via figured bass. If you want to know everything about harmony via figured bass, read Part II of CPE Bach's Versuch which is available for free here. It is a staggering and incredibly valuable document.