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]
253 questions
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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…
user35708
6
votes
2 answers
In a major key does the progression IV iii vi mean that vi is being tonicized?
I am doing an exercise in which I was asked to write a part of the descending 5th sequence in a progression. I wanted to start the 5th progression on a chord other than I and this is what I came up with.
Both phrases are almost the same except for…
user35708
5
votes
5 answers
Parallel fifths and power chords
Don’t power chords, used frequently in rock and pop songs, break the voice leading rule of no parallel fifths? As long as one of the other instruments (second guitar, bass) is playing the thirds of the chords, is this permissible?
286642
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Are parallel diminished 5ths allowed in 4 part harmony?
This is a figured bass exercise I just completed and towards the end you will see a IV65 going to a V65. This progression has two diminished 5ths in parallel motion. Is this acceptable part writing and would such a motion be correct common practice…
user35708
5
votes
2 answers
Does a rest in a harmony exercise make consecutive parallels acceptable?
In bar 4 there is a rest after the C which I have harmonized with V. In bar 5 there is a leap up to F which I would like to harmonize with I but that would give me parallel 5ths in the outer voices. Or would it? Does the rest mean that the next…
user35708
4
votes
2 answers
Voice leading/resolution of consecutive secondary dominant 7ths
What's the proper voice leading procedure when two consecutive secondary dominant seventh chords (with the same root chord) occur before the resolution to the root chord? For example V7/ii -> V42/ii -> ii6. Is the V7 resolving into the V42, or is it…
user27486
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Are unequal 5ths acceptable in applied or seconday dominant chords?
I am trying to write a progression in Cm that modulates to the minor dominant (Gm). In this progression I think I have written a viio65/v but I am getting unequal 5ths between the bass and alto parts. Is the voice leading in this progression deemed…
user35708
4
votes
4 answers
Why are parallel 5ths not allowed in part writing but reducing to 3 voices is?
Parallel octaves and fifths are not allowed in four-part writing because it undermines the independence of the two voices. But it is perfectly acceptable to go from 4 to 3 voices when necessary. Aren't the two things pretty much the same since you…
user35708
4
votes
2 answers
Is it ok to harmonize a descending soprano with V for ^7?
I am trying to compose some music and practice my 4 part harmony skills. I have been taught that a leading tone as shown here in my soprano should ascend or be harmonized with a iii if descending but I cant understand why I cant use a dominant…
user35708
4
votes
2 answers
How low can you go in keyboard style harmony exercises
In chorale style I know you have vocal limits but with keyboard style you can move lower and higher as needed. However, in keyboard style you play the upper 3 voices in the right hand and write them on the treble clef. I am doing an exercise where…
user35708
4
votes
4 answers
Is ii° V i a common progression in common practice harmony?
I am learning all about subdominant triads and my textbook shows most voice leading of I-ii-V progressions using major keys. It says that because of its harsh quality, the ii° chord was not used as much and that the ii°6 would have been more common.…
user35708
3
votes
6 answers
Why are parallel perfect intervals avoided in part writing when they are so common in scores?
In this concerto there are a couple of places where parallel octaves are used. I I am a harmony student but This is the first score that I have studied and see what just about every harmony book and counterpoint text teaches against. So what gives?…
user35708
3
votes
2 answers
Is an anticipation capable of causing parallel 5ths?
This is in 4/4 time. To me this does not sound like parallel 5ths between the top 2 voices because there is a 3rd on beat 2 and the 5th is in the up beat before the chord. Can someone share their thoughts on whether or not they see something line…
user35708
3
votes
4 answers
Why do the parallel fifths work in Schumann's Op. 15 No. 1?
In Robert Schumann's "Von fremden Ländern und Menschen" ("Of Strange Lands and People"), he composed parallel fifths in measure 13, highlighted in red in the below illustration. They give no hint of the jarring sound parallel fifths can have, nor do…
Aaron
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How to part write I6 to IV with parallel 10ths in the outer voices
In this first phrase of a part writing exercise I have been given ( "Harmony and Voice leading 5th edition") a figured Bass and the few soprano tones marked with red dots. I am stuck right at the end where there is an ascending soprano moving in…
user35708