Figured bass popover

The following tables contain examples of what you can enter into the figured bass popover to input the different possible figured bass figures, including alterations and suspensions.

You can open the figured bass popover in Write mode in any of the following ways when either a note is selected or the caret is active:

  • Press Shift-G.

  • In the Notations toolbox, click Popovers Popovers button, then Figured Bass Figured Bass button.

  • Choose Write > Create Figured Bass.

When inputting global figured bass, the icon on the left-hand side of the popover matches the corresponding button in the Notations toolbox. When inputting local figured bass, the icon on the left-hand side of the popover appears smaller and includes the icon for a single player.

Figure 1. Figured bass popover with an example entry for a global figure
Figure 2. Figured bass popover with an example entry for a local figure
Figure 3. Figured Bass button in the Notations toolbox

Figures and suspensions

Type of figure

Example popover entry

Figures (1-19)

1, 2, 3, and so on, up to 19

Bracketed figures or accidentals

(#643), #64(3), (#)643, and so on

Figures determined by chord symbols

Dorico Elements automatically converts chord symbols, as you would enter into the chord symbols popover, into correct figured bass.

Em7, Amaj7, or G/B, and so on

tasto solo

ts or tasto

Hold duration

d=2 (number of quarter notes) or d=1/2n (fraction of bass note duration)

Multiple figures

Tip

You can separate figures with commas to remove ambiguity.

6#42 or 6,#4,2

Hide figures

<3> or {3}

Suspensions

4->3, 4_3, or 4~3

Suspension duration; that is, the duration between suspension and resolution figures

r=2 (number of quarter notes) or r=1/2n (fraction of bass note duration)

Hold and suspension durations both specified

For example, a 4-3 suspension that lasts a whole note, with the resolution to the third after a half note.

4->3d=4r=2 or 4->3d=1nr=1/2n

Follow Engraving Options for this figure only

Note

Must be at the start of the popover entry.

R, r, V, v, or ?

Follow input literally for this figure only

Note

Must be at the start of the popover entry.

O, o, or !

This list is not comprehensive. It is intended to illustrate how you can structure your entry to input different figures.

Note

Unless you include an entry for Follow input literally at the start of your popover entry, the appearance of resulting figures is determined by Dorico Elements’s default settings.

Example

Entering 4->3d=4r=2 into the figured bass popover produces a 4-3 suspension that lasts a whole note, with the resolution to the third after a half note.

Accidentals and alterations

Type of accidental/alteration

Popover entry

Sharp

Tip

For raised thirds, you can enter just without the number.

# or s

Flat

b or f

Natural

N or n

Double sharp

x, ##, or ds

Triple sharp

x#, #x, ###, or ts

Double flat

bb or db

Triple flat

bbb or tb

Raise figure by a half-step (semitone)

+

Lower figure by a half-step (semitone)

-

Diminished figure

d

Unaltered figure

u