Horn Writing

2 Part Writing

3 Part Writing

4 Part Writing
Closed Voicing vs Open Voicing
2 part writing
using 3rds
6th
Unison add weight and color
Octaves add volume to a line
3 Part Writing

use of Triad

Split Voicing
ACTIVITY
Notes on Voicing
Chords
After a unison/octave line you ‘cascade’ out into harmony for the
end of the phrase.
Short hits or stabs are usually harmonised.
Pushes or sustained notes are usually made into chords.
Close position voicings are great for hits and stabs while drop-2 voicings are
great at providing clarity and power in pushes and cascades
the most important thing is keeping each instrument in a comfortable range
4 Part Writing
Chord Stack in Thirds and their inversion
Approach Notes Harmonization
Approach Notes
Harmonizing Chord tones
 Chromatic Approach

A chromatic approach note is a note that isn’t in the key of the moment. It moves into a
chord tone by half-step:
 Diatonic Half or Whole

A diatonic approach note is a note that is in the key of the moment. It can move
into a chord tone by half or whole step:
Dominant Approach

ii-V-i

ii-V-I
secondary Dominant Approach
Diminish approach

A diminished approach is similar to a dominant approach but instead, you

make the approach note a fully diminished 7 chord:
Parallel

A parallel approach is a bit of a ‘catch-all’. You can use it with any type of approach
note. You copy the same movement of the approach note into the target chord in
all the voices. If it moves by a whole step, so do all the other voices; if it’s a third,
so do all the other voices etc.
Multiple Approach

a. ii- V-I

b. Parallel
Activity #11