All Flashcards
Why should voices move mostly by step?
To achieve linear smoothness and avoid excessive leaps.
What should you do with common tones between chords?
Keep them in the same voice when possible.
What is SATB order?
Maintaining Soprano-Alto-Tenor-Bass order to avoid voice crossing.
Why should you avoid parallel fifths and octaves?
They weaken the independence of voices and create a hollow sound.
What is the typical resolution of a leading tone?
It should resolve up by step to the tonic.
Why should you avoid doubling the leading tone?
It can lead to incorrect resolution and parallel octaves.
What types of melodic intervals should be used?
Major and minor 2nds/3rds, perfect 4ths/5ths. Avoid augmented/diminished intervals and leaps larger than a perfect 5th.
What is the role of the bass line in voice leading?
To provide harmonic support and melodic interest.
What kind of motion is preferred in good voice leading?
Contrary and oblique motion are generally preferred over parallel and similar motion.
What is the primary function of outer voices (soprano and bass)?
To provide the harmonic framework of a composition.
What does a fermata represent?
A pause or hold of unspecified length on a note or rest.
In SATB writing, which clef is typically used for the tenor part?
Bass clef.
In SATB writing, which clef is typically used for the alto part?
Treble clef.
Why should voices move mostly by step?
To achieve linear smoothness and avoid excessive leaps.
What should you do with common tones between chords?
Keep them in the same voice when possible.
Why is maintaining SATB order important?
To avoid voice crossing, where a lower voice is higher than a higher voice.
Why should you avoid parallel fifths and octaves?
They weaken the independence of voices and can sound harmonically bland.
What melodic intervals are generally preferred in voice leading?
Major and minor 2nds/3rds, perfect 4ths/5ths.
How should a leading tone resolve in outer voices?
Up by step to the tonic.
Why should you avoid doubling the leading tone?
Doubling the leading tone can lead to incorrect resolutions and parallel octaves.
What types of intervals should be avoided between outer voices?
Augmented and diminished intervals (tritones).
What is the main consideration when creating a bass line?
Bass notes must make harmonic sense with the soprano line.
What triad types are acceptable for bass lines?
Tonic, supertonic, subdominant, and dominant triads.
Are repeated bass notes acceptable?
Okay on strong beats (or weak beats at the start of a phrase or as a suspension).
What should you do after an octave leap in the bass line?
Follow octave leaps with a change in direction.