Jon Brantingham Staff asked 8 years ago
When you write a roman numeral, there are small numbers on the top right, what do they mean?
Jon Brantingham Staff answered 8 years ago
The numbers are called figured bass, and refer to the interval above the note. So for instance, in a I chord, you normally don’t write the numbers, because it is assumed that a roman numeral by itself is in root position. If you were to write the numbers they would be 5 on top and then 3 on bottom.
You can see here, the interval between the C and the E, is a 3rd. The interval between the C and the G is a 5th.
If we move to the 1st inversion, the interval from E to G is a 3rd, the interval from E to C is a 6th.
Finally the 2nd inversion, the interval from G to C is a 4th, and the interval from G to E is a 6th.
This means that you can also have different roman numerals but the same intervals. So a G 6/4 chord, can be a I6/4, or a V6/4 depending on it’s function. A V6/4 is actually a dominant embellishment. A I6/4 chord is a tonic chord.