Figure 4 (Figured Bass)

Occasionally you may see the figure 4 used by itself (without a 3). You should interpret it as a suspended 4^th in the normal way, as far as possible.

This figure sometimes occurs when there are decoration notes between the 4^th and its resolution to the 3^rd.

In this example, the 4^th is G – this is decorated with a semiquaver (16^th note) figure before moving to F, which is the third in the following D minor chord.

Sometimes a 4 is used by itself when the resolution note is not the 3^rd of the following chord, but the 6^th. This happens when the position of the chord changes from root position to first inversion when the suspension resolves.

In this example, the 4^th is E, in a root position chord of B minor. The 4^th resolves in the normal way by stepping down to D. But when the D is sounded, the bass has changed to D and the chord is B minor in first inversion, with a figure 6.