The craft of writing multipart music such that all notes are transitioned to in a "smooth" or "harmonious" manner consistent with common practice harmony.
Questions tagged [voice-leading]
235 questions
26
votes
5 answers
What is Voice Leading?
In both classical music and jazz, we often encounter the concept of voice leading. What is it?
NPN328
- 16,022
- 14
- 84
- 141
20
votes
5 answers
How to differentiate between a diminished fifth and an augmented fourth interval?
Both are a tritone appart, both sound the same. How can we differentiate when an interval is an augmented fourth or a diminished fifth?
Context:
In voice leading we learn that when the spelling of the tendency tones (7th and 4th degrees) forms a…
NPN328
- 16,022
- 14
- 84
- 141
16
votes
7 answers
How do you voice extended chords?
If I have a Cmaj13 chord, it uses 7 notes. Basically all the notes of the scale. In a previous question, I was told that you rarely play all 7 notes for a 13th chord. So how do you know which ones to play, do you just randomly pick notes from it?…
user34288
13
votes
5 answers
"Only open voicing below middle C!" Really?
Every resource I've seen and person I've talked to has said that putting low voices, usually trombones, in close spacing anywhere below C4 is to be avoided at all costs, due to muddiness. As I arrange, though, this rule is causing me some grief, as…
JAF
- 531
- 1
- 3
- 11
12
votes
8 answers
Doubling the third of a root position major chord in four-part harmony
In a manual for four-part harmony that I am reading, it is suggested to avoid doubling the 3rd of a root position major chord, as it sounds harsh. On a minor root position chord however, it is acceptable.
Why is it better to double the 3rd of minor…
Stefanos
- 121
- 1
- 4
12
votes
5 answers
Common Practice Music Theory - Easier method to memorize 4-part harmony doubling rules?
My main question is in the title above.
Chords in Common Practice Style only have three notes, so in 4-part harmony (SATB), one note will be repeated.
In music theory, there are a ton of doubling rules. I am wondering if there is an easy way to…
user8886
12
votes
1 answer
Chord voicings used by backup trios in Motown girl groups?
On songs like Be my baby by the Ronettes or Will you love me tomorrow? by the Shirelles (a Carole King tune), there seems to be a standard style of arrangement where you have the lead vocals sung by the lead singer, and then there's a harmony part…
user9480
11
votes
4 answers
Voice leading confusion
I perfectly understand the theory of voice leading when explained in most theory books about moving voices between chords in the shortest possible manner to give a smooth connection between chords.
But in practice I never can see/understand the…
user2691
11
votes
3 answers
Are minor sevenths allowed in baroque counterpoint?
Are minor sevenths allowed in baroque counterpoint? I ask because in the first measure of Bach's Invention No. 1 the upper voice and lower voice have an interval of a minor seventh (the upper voice plays C while the lower voice plays D).
Chris Olszewski
- 1,169
- 9
- 15
10
votes
1 answer
What are the rules for using diminished chords in part writing?
If I use diminished chords such as ii diminished chord from the minor scale then do I according to the rules for proper part writing use the first inversion of ii diminished. What is the reasoning behind that? Is it because there is no diminished…
Chris Olszewski
- 1,169
- 9
- 15
9
votes
2 answers
Expanding the I-IV progression
I wanted to make the I-IV progression a little more interesting by having the I fall a third to its relative minor, vi, before moving to IV (so, I-vi-IV). I do like the melodramatic I-vi progression, and the hopeful IV chord creates an interesting…
286642
- 1,148
- 6
- 25
9
votes
3 answers
Do 4-part harmony rules also apply to piano arrangements?
Does rules in 4-part harmony also apply to piano arrangements ?
Like for example no doubling the 3rd note of the chord, or moving in parallel 5, etc.
Hyun Yoo Park
- 1,445
- 8
- 16
9
votes
5 answers
Tonality and Rules
One can find many books on "tonality"during the common practice period. e.g., Piston.
Tonality seems to be definable as the way in which composers express the chromatic scale in a organized way around one central pitch. E.g., There are 12 notes, if…
user2691
9
votes
6 answers
Why does the 7th of a dominant 7th chord have to resolve down in voice leading?
To properly resolve a dominant 7th chord the 7th usually resolves down by step but by doing this I am not able to have a complete tonic chord. See here please:
In voice leading that D in the E7 chord would go down to C in the next Am chord but that…
armani
- 9,033
- 3
- 23
- 60
8
votes
4 answers
How do “voice-leading”, “part-writing”, “polyphony” and “counterpoint” differ?
What are the differences in meaning and usage between “voice-leading”, “part-writing”, “polyphony” and “counterpoint”?
According to Wikipedia:
Voice-leading is “the term used to describe the linear progression of melodic lines (voices) and their…
PJTraill
- 190
- 1
- 11