Musical Concepts
VOICE LEADING is the term we use when referring to the movement of SINGLE LINES through chord changes.
If we divide this measure into its separate melodic lines (to the right), we can observe the VOICES more clearly.
In this G7 chord (and all V7 chords), contains the TRITONE. The tritone is the most dissonant interval, and has our ears searching for resolution.
The tritone can resolve in two ways.
In both of the examples to the right, the tritone is depicted in the top (treble clef) staffs.
Augmented 4ths resolve outward
Diminished 5ths resolve inward
The movement between notes can be described as COUNTERPOINT - which is the practice and study of how two voices (usually Bass and Soprano) move against each other. There are 4 ways to describe the way two notes interact.
Both voices move in opposite directions of the other, either outward or inward.
Both voices move in the same direction, keeping the same interval number.
Both voices move in the same direction, but create a different interval.
One voice stays stationary while the other moves off in another direction.
These types of MOTION between the voices, and having a variety of them, creates interesting music and sounds. Chords are boring if every voice moves in the same direction - same interval - or same whatever. Bach was able to do amazing things with just two voices.
5
b7
1
3
5
b7
1
3
1
3
1
1
3
1
The examples here have intervals listed next to the notes
