The figured bass (chords) of Trouble - Coldplay

This is an attempt to present all of it in numbered bass (figured bass) form [Bach].


The numbers above the bass mean that we play the bass and then count as many white notes on the right of the keyboard to find the harmony or other parts. So we find the name of the natural note of a higher part. (Whether it would be an F natural, F sharp or F flat will depend on the scale of the song. A scale is the set of for example seven notes used to compose or play). For example F6 means F bass with D at a higher part. Easy.


Why is this centuries old notation used? Because it clearly shows that chords do not come out of thin air. There is logic to the finest art. For example it is automatically derived if a chord is major or minor just by the set of notes used ie the scale or set of the 7 particular notes used while composing.


How is this possible?


It is easy. If no number is given with a bass then the default code is 1 3 5. For example G means G B D. Automatically a G major chord. B with no number means B D F, F on this song is F sharp (see below) and since D is natural automatically a B minor chord is defined. B7 means B D F A [Bach], ie automatically a B minor 7th chord.


Every line below is a bar of music. A bar is 4 beats.


Note since the scale is G major or G Ionian, all F are F sharp. Expect where G major becomes G Mixolydian ie F becomes white or natural.


G7 ie G B D F# intro
E79
B
B
G7
E79
B
B
G7 Rhythm section begins
E79
B
B
G7
E79
B
B
G Verse oh
E7 no, I
B see,
B a (a sung D to prepare the following 6th)
F6 (ie F A 6) spider...
A
G
E7
B
B
F6
A
G
G
G7
E79
B
B
G7
E79
B
B
G oh no
E7 no what's
B
B
F6
A
G
E7
B
B
F6
A
G
G
A chorus
C#36 (ie C#bass with A C# E ie Amajor)
E7
E7
A
C#
E7
E7
A
C#
E7
E7
A
A
E
E
G7
E79
B
B
G7
E79
B
B
G oh
E7
B see
B
F6
A
G
E7
B turn
B
F69 the singer sings the 9th ie G
A
G
G
A Chorus
C#36
E7
E7
A
C#
E7
E7
A
C#
E7
E7
A
A
E
E
G
E
B7
B9, B11(B4) G
E7
B7
B
G
E7
B7
B
G
E
B
B
E (just E chord so that F7 following is prepared) they spun
F7
G7
F7
E
F7
G79 (singer sings the 9th ie A)
F7
E
F7
G7
F7
E me
E
E
E
G outro
E7
B7
B9, B11 G
E7
B7
B
G
E7
B7
B9, B11 G
E7
B7


Transcription was done while listening to the Pleiades 2N3053 amplifier mono setup feeding the Philips AD5046N hi Z (impedance) full range speaker.


References:


Bach, Niedt manual or Bach bass rules:


https://normanschmidt.net/scores/bachjs-general_bass_rules.pdf


http://musicianshangout.com/Music/Theory/Scales/Details/1387?key=G