Exercise 11
Draw triads using the letter name and figured bass symbol given below the staff. Use accidentals as needed.
Example 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Gm(^6 3) DbMB° 46 FM (3)^6 Am^64 E+
Harmonizing Music Using Roman Numerals and Figured Bass Symbols
In the previous section, we harmonized pieces using chord symbols (letter name and quality) written above the
melody. We may also use roman numerals and figured bass symbols to harmonize a melody and to analyze the
harmonies used by a composer.
Let’s look at the first measures of J.S. Bach’s “Prelude in F Major.” We may analyze the harmonies that Bach
uses in this Prelude and assign roman numerals and figured bass symbols to them.
- Broken triads use the same figured bass rules as blocked triads.
- Blocked triads have been written in the bass clef below the Bach piece to represent the broken triads.
Prelude in F Major, BWV 927 (J.S. Bach)
- We begin by assigning roman numerals to each triad of the F major scale, as shown below. Circle the letter
name of the triads that are used in Bach’s Prelude in F.
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MODULE 14
Workbook Exercises 14.5–14.8