Writing Rules or Writing Rocks! (brief part writing guidelines)

Writing Rules or Writing Rocks!
(brief part writing guidelines)

Correct Chord (You may omit the 5th of root position chords.)
Sonorous Spacing — Octave or Less between S - A and A - T

Soprano — Lyrical Melody (mostly stepwise) on the treble staff
(avoid ledger lines for a Reasonable Range)
Alto — Nearest Note (often the same tone) between soprano and tenor (can go below middle C)
Tenor — Nearest Note (often the same tone) between alto and bass (can go above middle C)
Bass — Articulates the harmony (often leaps) on the bass staff
(avoid ledger lines for a Reasonable Range)

NO Perfect Parallels or parallel dissonances (P4 is the exception)
In authentic and deceptive cadences, resolve scale degree 7 to 8 and scale degree 4 to 3.
Resolve chord 7ths down by step.

Do NOT double active tones, i.e. the leading tone, altered tones or 7ths of 7th chords.

Use second inversion triads sparingly — only 4 types are allowed.

vii°

( NO vii° or vii°

6
4

)

— usually double the bass

Part Writing Tips
More Voice-Leading Guidelines (for the fastidious)
Humor (or Wisdom)
Grading Rubric