Figured bass is a system of musical notation used primarily in the Baroque period, designed to indicate the harmony and chord structure of a piece of music. It involves writing a bass line with numbers and symbols (figures) above or below it that indicate the intervals to be played above the bass note. This allows keyboard players or continuo sections to realize the harmony and provide accompaniment while also having the flexibility to interpret the chords creatively.
In terms of its application to keyboard players, they would use the figured bass notation to understand which chords to play and how to embellish them. It is particularly associated with the performance practice of accompaniment for small string instruments and vocal music during that era, allowing for a rich harmonic foundation in ensembles.
Figured bass is not a style of singing or a type of musical ornament, but rather a crucial aspect of Western music theory and practice in a specific historical context.
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