MUS 111
Voice Leading Guidelines

Rhythm

1. Rhythmic durations equal to or greater than beat.
2. Final note on downbeat (or midway thru bar in quadruple time).
3. Every note belongs to the chord that harmonizes it.
4. Melody primarily conjunct.
5. Contour interesting (varied).
6. Melody has single focal point.

Melody

7. No leaps to/from augmented interval.
8. No leaps of 7th or larger than P8 (P8 OK).
9. Diminished intervals OK if melody changes direction by step immediately after.
10. Interval P5 or higher approached and left in direction opposite to leap (not necessarily stepwise).
11. 2 leaps of 4th or 3rd in same direction should outline triad.

Tendency

12. 7 moves up to 1. Downward movement 1-7-6-5 OK.
13. 4 moves to 3.

Spacing

14. No voices should cross highest or lowest line
15. Adjacent parts other than bass should stay within P8.

Parallels

16. Parts separated by P5 or P8 can’t move to pitch classes separated by same interval. Includes octave equivalents.
17. Avoid unequal o5-P5 between bass and another voice.
18. Outer parts can’t move in same direction to P5 or P8 with a leap in soprano.

DEFINITIONS

Conjunct: Moving in a stepwise motion
Closed voicing: Less than an octave between soprano and tenor.
Open voicing: Octave or more between soprano and tenor.
Unequal 5th’s: Movement of P5 to o5 or the reverse.
Direct 5th’s: Movement of outer parts in same direction to P5 or P8 with a leap in soprano.