PART WRITING RULES

1. Put no more than an octave in between notes

2. No parallel 5ths or octaves!
3. No voice crossings!
a. One voice can not cross past another voice
b. One voice can not cross past another voice’s previous note
4. Leading tone (scale degree 7) is ALWAYS followed by scale degree 1!
5. Double the root when possible – if not, try to double the 3rd. If neither of
these are an option, you can double the 5th.

Bad writing: Good writing:

More than an octave No more than an
between soprano/alto octave anywhere

Bad writing: Parallel 5ths between soprano/alto voices

 Voice crossing: Bass note in 2nd
Voice crossing: Bass is above chord is above tenor note from
tenor in the second chord 1st chord

Good writing: In the key of C major, B is scale degree 7 and it is going to scale
degree 1 in the next chord.

Follow these rules and your music will always sound beautiful!!