Master Table of Figured Bass and Inversion Symbols
Consult this table when working with figured bass and inversion symbols used with Roman numerals
Chord Type | Position/Inversion | Bass Note | Figured | Bass | Doubling Convention | Roman Numeral Inversion Symbol |
Abbreviated | Complete | |||||
Triad | Root | Root | [nothing] | 5 | Root | The inversion symbols are the same |
3 | as the abbreviated figured bass. | |||||
1st Inversion | Third | 6 | 6 | Any member except l.t. | ||
3 | ||||||
2nd Inversion | Fifth | 6 | 6 | 5th (the bass) | ||
4 | 4 | |||||
Seventh | Root | Root | 7 | 7 | All members present | |
5 | ||||||
3 | ||||||
1st Inversion | Third | 6 | 6 | All members present | ||
5 | 5 | |||||
3 | ||||||
2nd Inversion | Fifth | 4 | 6 | All members present | ||
3 | 4 | |||||
3 | ||||||
3rd Inversion | Seventh | 2 or 4 | 6 | All members present | ||
2 | 4 | |||||
2 |