1. Voice Ranges Bass: E2-C4 Tenor: C3-F4 Alto: E3-D5 Soprano: B3-A5
MAIN RULES Keep voices in ranges No voice overlaps or voice crossings Avoid Augmented Second and Augmented fourth (these are leaps up of minor 3rd and tritone) No parallel octaves, fifths, unisons Keep upper voices less than an octave apart Do not double the leading tone Avoid hidden parallel octaves and fifths in outer voices
Suggestions Bass and Soprano don't move in parallel motion Move the shortest distance possible between chords
MAJOR/MINOR TRIADS
Root Position
Preferred - double root for major and minor triads except double third in vi or VI triads
Allowed - double root in vi or VI triads, double 1st, 4th, 5th scale degree for other major and minor triads
DIMINISHED TRIADS Are never in root position First Inversion Preferred:double bass note Allowed: double root of ii dim or double fifth of chord in all other cases
Major Triads. I Double 5th of I ii Double 3rd of ii iii Double 3rd of iii IV Double 5th of IV V Only root can be doubled VI Double root of VI
Minor Triads i Double the 5th of i ii Double the 3rd of ii iii Double the 3rd of iii III Double the 3rd of III iv Double the 5th of iv IV Double the 5th of IV v Only the root can be doubled in v V Only the root can be doubled in V vi Double the root of vi VI Double the root of VI VII Double the 5th of VII
DIMISHED SEVENTH AND HALF-DIMINISHED SEVENTH Resolution of the seventh Preferred - Resolve the tritone or at least the lower tritone Allowed - pretty much any including -5->5 (tritone to fifth or fourth in parallel motion)
First Inversion
Preferred - Double the Soprano but in series of first inversions, double the bass and soprano alternately
Allowed - Double the bass note
Second Inversion
Use only when:Bass note is pedal or passing tone or In I6/4 ->V->I or When bass note is part of arpeggio
Always double the bass note
DOMINANT 7th In V7->I, V7->vi, V7->VI seventh resolves down in same voice If resolution of seventh is not part of next chord, seventh can't resolve Sometimes the resolution is delayed or (more rarely) does not occur 5th in 7th can be omitted if needed and root doubled When 7th chords occur in succession, as in secondary dominants, the 5th is often omitted
NON-DOMINANT 7th CHORDS Resolution Type 1: 7th resolves to 3rd, chord root descends 5th for I->IV, ii->V, iii-vi, vi->ii, i->iv, iidim -> V (VI7->iidim in minor mode, VI7 is always in inversion) Type 2: 7th resolves down, root ascends a step for IV->V or (rarer) I,i->2, ii->iii, iii->iv, VI-VII Type 3: 7th resolves down, root descends a third for ii->vii Non-resolution implies modern style.