The amazing bass code of Say it Right - Nelly Furtado

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6JnGBs88sL0


For this music experiment a keyboard musical instrument is needed.


Bass code or Harmony is so simple yet so involved on this song.


However referring to the Bach-Niedt bass code manual [Bach] it can be understood.


Let's first show what is happening in a simpler key which has many white (or natural) notes for simplicity of demonstration.


If the key were E minor ie all notes white except F sharp the harmony would had been:
E bass and E G B
D bass and D F B (remember all F are sharp)
C bass and E G B
A bass and C E B


So the chords derived just by using the bass number code and the right sharps are E minor 3rd, D major 3rd major 6th, C major 3rd major 7th, A minor 3rd major ninth. Note music is always referred to bass. Bass actually comes from the word base βασις meaning foundation.


So easy, sophisticated and effective. Note how the principle of least change in music is cleverly followed. If plain 1 3 5 harmonic triads were used it would have sounded like primary school stuff or an artless symphony.


The Bach bass code is:


E
D6
C7
A9


The actual key is F minor. (F minor has A flat, B flat, D flat, E flat)


Bass code is:


F
E6
D7
B9


So by taking the correct flats:


F bass and F bA C
bE bass and bE G C
bD bass and F bA C
bB bass and bD F C


We see all 7ths or 9ths with respect to bass are prepared [Bach] for the human brain by having the actual notes creating such intervals with respect to future bass heard in advance.



The backing vocals play in an amazing way with such nice bass code.


Reference:


Bach Bass Rules:
https://normanschmidt.net/scores/bachjs-general_bass_rules.pdf


(On Bach Bass Rules, Bach gives a bass note and a number above it which defines what the right hand would have to play. The right hand staff is completed for sake of illustration. If no number is written above bass we just play 1 3 5 on the right hand. For example for F we just play F A C. If a number exists above bass we find what the right hand should play by fowling the Bach bass rules. For example D7 means play D bass add the seventh ie C and the 3rd F. The seventh must be prepared so that the listener's brain is prepared. We then add the flats or sharp of the scale used for the composition. For the case of above pop song D7 means bD bass and F bA C. Easy.