A Simple Guide to Figured BassFigures with the Numeral 2
Chapter 12 · Reference

Figures with the Numeral 2

The bass-suspension meaning of 2 and its less common uses.

A 2 by itself almost always signifies a bass suspension.

Musical example

So 2 is an abbreviation of 5/2. Notice that there is no “six” above the C#. Remember that any raised bass note is automatically a 6 chord (see page 3).

The other common use of the numeral 2 is in a 6/4/2 chord, which is described in the chapter dealing with the numeral 4.

Very occasionally a composer will use 2 interchangeably with 9.