Part Writing Flashcards

By Connor and Austin

vocal range

a voice’s comfortable span of pitches that it can produce

close position

a vocal arrangement where no chord element can fit between the upper voices

open position

a vocal arrangement where a chord element could be placed between the upper voices

voice crossing

when the voices of different parts overlap in pitch; prohibited for more than one chord

SATB

soprano, alto, tenor, bass; the four main voice parts involved in part writing

rules of spacing between voices

no more than an octave should separate the soprano, alto, and tenor voices; the bass voice can be any distance from the tenor

doubling of chord tones

when more than one part sing the same note, regardless of octave

rules of chord construction

every chord must include at least the root and the third notes; the fifth can sometimes be omitted without compromising the chord’s clarity

doubling of tendency tones

when unstable tones are doubled; should be avoided to maintain stability in the harmony