neirocca sound-first music theory

Part Writing and Voice Leading

What is tested

This is the highest-value free-response task. You realize a bass or a series of roman numerals in four voices, observing voice ranges, spacing, doubling, and the prohibition on parallel fifths and octaves. Machine-checked practice is worth far more here than reading the rules again.

Common mistakes

Parallel fifths and octaves are created between the inner voices, where they are hardest to see. Check all six pairs of voices rather than just soprano against bass, and watch for direct fifths and octaves approached by similar motion in the outer voices.

Practice with

The tool below checks your answer against the theory engine, so you get the same verdict a marker would.

Open the tool: SATB Part-Writing Checker →

Read the lesson

All topics in this exam