Steps to Harmonizing a Figured Bass

1. Identify the key.

2. Identify the cadences at phrase endings.

3. For each chord, write the Roman numeral below and the commercial chord symbol above, using the figured bass symbols that describe the exact intervals over the given bass note.

4. Decide on the type of voicing: Keyboard, Choral Close, Choral Open.

5. Consider the first few chords with all available soprano notes and choose the one that results in the most interesting soprano line.

6. Continue to work forward to develop a logical harmonization with appropriate voice leading. (Another approach is to complete the cadences and then work backward and forward until the phrase is completed.)

7. Apply nonharmonic tones to the soprano first, then to other voices as appropriate. When adding a nonharmonic tone make sure it does not change the underlying chord.

Example of a figured bass: