Guidelines

for 1st and 2nd Species Counterpoint

1st Species:
• Starting note: To begin, you must start with a unison, 3rd, 5th, octave, or 10th above the C.F.
• Consonant Intervals: Unisons, major/minor 3rds and 6ths, P5’s, and any of these plus an 8ve.
• Dissonant Intervals: 2nds, 4ths, and 7ths, and any of these plus an 8ve.
• Skips: You may have skips outlining any major/minor interval up to a 6th, and octaves. You
cannot skip in the interval of a tri-tone (A4 or d5), a seventh, or any interval greater than an
octave. If you have multiple skips in the same direction, the interval outlined by the
farthest two intervals cannot be a seventh, or any interval greater than an octave:

• If you skip an octave, it must be preceded and followed by a change of direction:

• Parallel motion: Parallel Unisons, 5ths and 8ves are forbidden.
• Direct 5ths and 8ves: 5ths and 8ves must be approached by opposite direction:

• Parallel 3rds and 6ths are OK, but don’t use more than 3 in a row of any interval. BORING!!
• Ending: The last note above the counterpoint must be a unison, 3rd, 5th, 8ve, or 10th, and the
last note must be approached by step.

2nd Species:
All of the rules of 1st species apply, and:
• Repeated notes: Repeated notes in 2nd species are not allowed.
• First and last measure: You may begin the first measure with a half rest, but this is the only
place you can use a rest in 2nd species. The second to last measure may be a whole note, and
the last measure has to be a whole note. Same ending rules apply (1,3,5,8, or 10 by step)
• Passing tones: 2nd species allows the use of passing tones, but only on the 2nd half note of a
measure. Passing tones must occur between to consonant intervals, all of which must go the
same direction by step.

RIGHT:

WRONG:

• Parallel 5ths and parallel 8ves are forbidden between consecutive intervals (weak beat to
strong beat or strong beat to weak beat) as well as between consecutive strong beats.
• Direct 5ths and 8ves are forbidden between consecutive intervals.