Part-Writing Hints

Hints for taking a chord progression and setting it in chorale style.

Steps for writing

1. Determine key signature.
2. Spell out triads of chord progression, circle triad note for bass.
3. Put in bass line.
4. Make a note of what chord tones are left (noting doubling) for the 3 upper vioces.
5. Put in soprano line. Strive for contrary motion between soprano and bass line. Make sure that the 2 lines make for good "counterpoint." Also check for any bad parallelism between these 2 vioces.
6. Fill in 2 inner voices, moving them as smoothly as possible and adhering to all the other rules of part-writing.

Further Hints

• Keep tenor as high as possible (range is f3-f4).
• When a problem arises, try switching pitches of 2 inner vioces.