Chord Connection and Chord Doublings
Guidelines for Chord Connection and Chord Doublings for Classical Music

Doublings-2 of the same note of a triad. Ex. 2 C’s in a C major triad
             -The first choice of doubling is the root.
             -The next best note to double is the fifth.
             -Avoid doubling the third. It is the color of the chord. Too much of it is not good.
             -Avoid doubling any altered notes.
             -Avoid doubling all extensions. (7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths)
             -If you are in trouble, you can omit the fifth.

Chord Connection- When writing in 4 parts, avoid parallel motion, and try using oblique and contrary
                                  motion. (See Motion section below.)

             -Keep common tones when connecting chords.

            -When connecting chords, try to get voices to move to the next closest chord tones.

            -When connecting chords, always avoid parallel fifths, parallel octaves, and parallel unisons.
            -Avoid melodic augmented 2nds and augmented 4ths.
            (Don’t use augmented 2nds or 4ths as intervals from one note to another.)
            -Altered tones resolve in the direction from which they were altered.
            (If it was altered by being raised, it resolves by going up. It it was altered by being lowered, it resolves by being lowered.)

Misc. -Keep all the voices in order. Soprano is always kept higher than altos. Altos are always higher than
 tenor. Etc.
 -The upper three parts sound good if they are kept within an octave.

Motion

-Parallel Motion-notes move in the same direction.

 

 -Contrary Motion-notes move in opposite directions.

 -Oblique Motion-one doesn’t move and other does.