Brainlag Plus Music

Accidentals in the figures

Music theory, Minor keys, figures and doubling, 12 minutes

How the figures show the raised 7th of a minor key, and what an accidental on its own means.

An accidental on its own

The figures count up the scale of the key signature. The raised 7th of a minor key is not in the key signature, so the figures must show it.

An accidental on its own means: change the 3rd above the bass.

A minor: a sharp on its own raises the 3rd above the bass, the leading note

Why only the 3rd? Because it is the note that most often needs changing (the leading note in chord V), so it gets the shortest sign.

The next 2 screens and the 5 questions are in Plus.

Screen 1 of 3, free to read.