Chapter 9: Principles of Voice Leading and Other General Information

Typical Voice Ranges:

- Soprano: C4 -to- G5 (Middle C -to- Space Above Treble Cleff)                      - Stems Up      (Soprano)

- Alto:        G3 -to- D5 (Top Space in Bass Cleff -to- 4th Line in Treble Cleff)   - Stems Down (Alto)

- Tenor:     C3 -to- G4 (2nd Space on Bass Cleff -to- 2nd Line in Treble Cleff) - Stems Up      (Tenor)

- Bass:       E2 -to- C4 (Line Below Bass Cleff -to- Middle C)                            - Stems Down  (Bass)

Bass: Responsible for Harmonic Motion

"Inner Voices": Alto and Tenor

"Outer Voices": Soprano and Bass

Closed Structure: Intervals between Soprano and Tenor stay within an Octave

Open Structure: Intervals between Soprano and Tenor exceed an Octave

Melodic Line Guidelines:

~ Rhythm: Try to Do Following

  - Keep it Simple

  - 1 Note per Chord/Beat (for now)

  - Final Note on Strong Beat

~ Conture: Try to Do Following

  - Use mostly Step-Wise Motion

  - Only 1 Climax Point per Phrase

~ Leaps: Avoid Following

  - Diminished Intervals (Use them Sparingly)

  - Augmented Intervals

  - Leap of 4th or Greater

    - Especially Leaps of 7th or over an Octave

  - Multiple Leaps in a row

~ Leaps: Try to Do Following

  - Approach and Leave Leap Step-wise in Opposite Direction

    - (ex: Step Down - Leap Up - Step Down)

  - If you must use Chained Leaps:

    - Use Small Intervals (Less than P4)

    - Try to Outline a Triad

~ When using "Tendancy Tones" (scale degrees seperated by a 2nd):

  - Try to move to a tone the melodic line "Wants to lead back to"

    - (ex: Scale degree 4 tends to strongly "lean" towards a scale degree 3 resolution)

    - (ex: Same with scale degree 7 "leaning" towards scale degree 8 [sometimes refered to as 1])

~ Avoid "Inner Voices" Crossing Above Soprano Line or Below Bass Line