On Sun, Mar 3, 2013 at 7:23 AM, Phil Holmes
<address@hidden> wrote:
I'm trying to do some homework, which is writing a melody given a figured bass. However, part of the figuring is written as 6 over 5 (image of this in LilyPond is attached). I know the standard figurings like 6, 6/4 etc., but could anyone who understands give me a brief explanation of 6/5? Thanks.
Since the figures indicate intervals above the bass note, in this case there would be a sixth and a fifth somewhere in the upper parts, diatonic since no alterations are specified. There will also be a third above the bass--this is typically omitted from the figures. So the harmony indicated is a dominant seventh chord built on E-flat (presumably the dominant in your key) with the third in the bass.
HTH,
David