thorough bass

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Explanation of "Thorough Bass"

Definition: "Thorough bass" is a musical term. It refers to a bass part (the low notes in music) that is fully written out, along with numbers that tell musicians what chords to play above it.

Usage Instructions:

• Context: "Thorough bass" is primarily used in classical music, especially from the Baroque period (1600-1750). It's often seen in sheet music.
• Who Uses It: Musicians, composers, and music theorists may use this term when discussing or writing music.

Example:

• In a piece of Baroque music, you might see a line of notes at the bottom of the sheet music. This is the thorough bass, and above it, there will be numbers indicating the chords to be played. For instance, if you see the notes "C" and "E" with a "6" next to them, it means to play the chord based on those notes.

Advanced Usage:

• "Thorough bass" is also known by its Italian name, "basso continuo." This practice was common in compositions during the Baroque era.
• Musicians who play the thorough bass often need to understand music theory to interpret the numbers correctly.

Word Variants:

• Basso Continuo: The Italian term for thorough bass.
• Figured Bass: Another term sometimes used interchangeably with thorough bass, focusing on the numerical notation that indicates the chords.

Different Meanings:

• In modern contexts, "thorough bass" is not commonly used outside of classical music discussions. It is not a term you would hear in popular music.

Synonyms:

• Basso continuo
• Figured bass

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "thorough bass," as it is a specialized term in music.

Summary:

Thorough bass is a fundamental concept in classical music, especially in the Baroque style, where it serves as a guide for musicians to create harmony over a written bassline.

Academic

Noun

1. a bass part written out in full and accompanied by numbers to indicate the chords to be played

Synonyms

• figured bass
• basso continuo
• continuo