What are the voice leading rules?

The term “voice leading” refers to the way in which individual voices move from chord to chord. The best voice leading occurs when all individual voices move smoothly. You can achieve this by moving between chords using the same note or moving up or down by a step in the inner voices of the chord, whenever possible.
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What are the voice leading rules for root movement of a 4th or 5th in the bass?

26.7. 2 Bass movement of the interval of a 4th or 5th
  • Retain the common tone and move the other two voices by step.
  • Move all of the upper voices in the same direction (each upper voice will move by a 2nd or 3rd to the nearest chord member in the second chord)
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Can you double the third in voice leading?

Always double the root of a chord. Never double the leading tone, so don't double the root if the root is the leading tone. Don't double the third, except if the chord is diminished, in which case it's good to double the third.
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When can you omit the fifth?

In extended chords (7th, 9th, 11th and 13th) the 5th is usually omitted – partly to keep these chords from sounding too harmonically 'dense'. The 5th is a very strong-sounding interval, lending itself more to rock than jazzy extended chords.
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What are voice leading errors?

Voice leading refers to the interaction between multiple musical lines in a composition. There are some common errors to watch out for that can undermine the success of the music. Unresolved tendency tones, leading tones, and sevenths can leave the composition feeling incomplete.
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How to Get From Chord To Chord - Voice Leading Music Theory



What are the most common chord progressions?

The I–V–vi–IV progression is a common chord progression popular across several genres of music. It involves the I, V, vi, and IV chords of any particular musical scale.
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What is voice leading in music?

The term “voice leading” refers to the way in which individual voices move from chord to chord. The best voice leading occurs when all individual voices move smoothly. You can achieve this by moving between chords using the same note or moving up or down by a step in the inner voices of the chord, whenever possible.
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What is exposed 5th and 8ve?

Also known as “concealed” or “exposed” consecutives, these are a little harder to spot, but must be avoided. Hidden consecutives happen when: The bass and soprano parts form a perfect 5th or octave AND. The 5th/8ve is approached by similar motion AND. The soprano part is approached by a leap (not by step).
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How do you write 4 parts of vocal harmony?

The Notation

As we said, 4-part harmony is written for 4 voices: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass (SATB in short). The notation for these is written on two staves: one in the treble clef for the Soprano and Alto parts and the other in the bass clef for the Tenor and Bass parts.
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What cadence is I to IV?

A plagal cadence is a cadence from the subdominant (IV) to the tonic (I). It is also known as the Amen Cadence because of its frequent setting to the text “Amen” in hymns. Here it is being used at the end of The Doxology Hymn. The term “minor plagal cadence” is used to refer to the iv–I progression.
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What do you double in a first inversion chord?

1 Voicing a First Inversion Chord. In contrast to the doubling rule for root position chords (i.e., “double the bass”), do not double the bass note for first inversion triads. Instead, double the root or fifth, depending on which can be approached and left most smoothly.
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What is voice leading on piano?

Traditional voice leading focuses on the resolution of tendency tones and avoidance of such intervals as parallel 5ths, octaves, and certain doublings of pitches within chords. Following voice leading rules will lend a recognizable stylistic sound and chord texture.
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What are the rules of counterpoint?

Counterpoint Rules
  • The interval between the given note and the note in your counter-melody should be consonant (major/minor 3rd or 6th, perfect unison, 5th, or octave, or a compound form).
  • If the counter-melody is above the given melody, then the last note of the counter-melody should be in the tonic chord.
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What is a perfect authentic cadence?

To be considered a perfect authentic cadence (PAC), the cadence must meet three requirements. First, V must be used rather than vii o. Second, both chords must be in root position. Finally, the highest note of the I (or i) chord must be the tonic of the scale.
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What is the 12 bar blues progression?

A 12-bar blues progression is a set chord progression that repeats every 12 bars of music. You'll play the 1 chord for four measures, the 4 chord for two measures, the 1 chord for two measures, the 5 chord for one measure, the 4 chord for one measure, the 1 chord for one measure, then the 5 chord for the last measure.
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What is a contrary 5th?

Consecutive fifths by contrary motion are very similar to parallel fifths. The only difference is that instead of the notes moving together while forming two fifths in a row, the notes move in opposite directions.
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What does frustrating the leading tone mean?

3 - another option: the “frustrated” leading tone

The LT is “frustrated” in this solution because it does not get to resolve to the tonic the way it wants to. This option is only available if the leading tone is in an inner voice.
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What is voice leading in jazz?

Voice leading refers to the way that certain notes or “voices” within chords move and change (“lead”) in a chord progression. Many chords in common harmonic progressions have both common tones (pitches that are shared by two different chords) as well as differing pitches.
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