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Sharpmony Counterpoint Rules


The counterpoint error controls available in Sharpmony are shown below. The information includes the CONTROL that allows you to activate or deactivate its use in the APP, the COLOR used to mark the errors found in the score, explanatory text of the counterpoint rule and its exceptions and finally graphic examples that explain how the marked error appears in the score.

Parallel octaves (RED)

Consecutive parallel octaves between the same pair of voices, in both parallel or contrary motion, are not allowed.

Sharpmony will detect the parallel octaves that are not allowed, and will mark the 2 notes corresponding to the 2 voices that produce the parallel octave in the first chord, using RED color.

The lines and numbers in the following example have been added to the Sharpmony correction to better show where the octaves are located.

Parallel fifths (RED)

Consecutive parallel fifths between the same pair of voices in parallel or contrary motion are not allowed.

Exception

  1. Consecutive parallel fifths are allowed when the second is a diminished fifth.
  2. Consecutive parallel fifths are allowed as long as they occur in a chord disposition change, or in two consecutive chords featuring the same dominant functionality (V-VII or vice versa).

Sharpmony will detect the parallel fifths that are not allowed, and will mark the 2 notes corresponding to the 2 voices that produce the parallel fifth in the first chord, with RED color.

The lines, numbers, as well as the text in the following example have been added to the Sharpmony correction to better show where the fifths are located.

Wrong chord or chord not in the key (GREEN)

This will occur when a chord (harmonic interval between the 2 voices) does not contain the correct notes or when the accidentals belonging to the current key have not been correctly assigned. This will also happen when a mandatory inversion for a given chord is not applied to the chord (such as augmented sixth).

Sharpmony will check whether the chords belong to the key and figured bass, and in the case of a mismatch will mark the chord or chords as wrong with the GREEN color.

In the following example, explanatory text has been added to the Sharpmony correction.

Indirect (non-consecutive) fifths and eighths (ORANGE)

Indirect (non-consecutive) fifths and eighths are only allowed if they are separated by at least more than one proportion of the cantus firmus (cf - given voice). That is, if the cf is made up of whole notes, then it must be separated by more than one whole; if the cf is made up of half notes, then it must be separated by more than one half note, and so on.

Sharpmony will detect the eighths and/or indirect fifths not allowed and will mark, in the above chord with the color ORANGE, the 2 notes corresponding to the 2 voices forming the octave or the fifth.

The lines, numbers as well as the text in the following example have been added to the Sharpmony correction.

Dissonance (BLUE)

Dissonant leaps must be avoided: augmented or diminished, as well as 7th and 9th leaps. Sharpmony will detect and mark the corresponding note with BLUE color.

Exceptions

  1. Dissonant leaps will be allowed as long as they occur in a chord disposition, or in two consecutive chordsfeaturing the same dominant functionality (V-VII or vice versa).
  2. If after a dissonant melodic leap not allowed the melodic movement continues by stepwise contrary motion, it will be allowed and no error will be marked.

The lines, numbers, as well as the text of the following example have been added to the correction provided by Sharpmony.

Voice ranges (CHOCOLATE)

For the 2-voice Counterpoint, the Soprano and Bass voices have been established in Sharpmony as the ones to be used, with their respective maximum tessituras and always considering choirs of amateur voices.

If any of the voices exceeds the maximum tessitura, Sharpmony will detect and mark them, with the assigned color, CHOCOLATE.

Incorrect resolution 7th/9th (GRAY)

Any Diminished 5th , 7th or 9th belonging to a chord featuring dominant function, must be prepared from the previous chord -with no motion or stepwise motion- and must resolve be downward stepwise motion, either chromatic or diatonic movement.
(*) In two-part counterpoint, only the diminished 5th can be used (7th and 9th will appear when additional voices are used).

Exceptions

  1. Above describe rule is not mandatory if the movement belongs to a chord disposition change when working as a dominant chord (V-VII or vice versa) in two consecutive bars. Moreover, in a given species counterpoint preparation and resolution of diminished 5h, 7th and 9th, are not required, given that we are chord disposition change.
  2. Both indirect preparation and resolution are also allowed, provided that an adjoining voice prepares or resolves the note.

The lines, numbers and text in the following example have been added to the correction provided by Sharpmony.

Wrong unisone movement (BURGUNDY)

When two voices movement produces unison interval, it is required that both the movement before and after that unison must follow contrary or oblique motion. It will be allowed only in the first and last bars, both in strong and weak beats; or in the other bars only in the weak beats. No embellishments can be added to unisone movements.

Sharpmony will detect and mark the corresponding interval BURGUNDY color.

The lines, circles, squares and text in the following example have been added to the correction provided by Sharpmony.

Direct fifths or octaves (LIGHT PINK)

Hidden consecutives, Fifth and Octave, (by direct movement).

Exceptions

  1. Hidden fifths and octaves are allowed when disposition changes are applied in a given chord, or two consecutive chords dominant chords are employed (such as VII-V or V-VII).

Sharpmony will detect not allowed motion, and will mark it in the first chord the 2 notes in the hidden 5th or 8th.

Lines, squares and red text have been added over the Sharpmony correction.

Wrong movement of leading tone (LIME)

When the chord after a dominant one includes the root, the leading note must resolves into the root.

Exceptions

  1. When the root is not part of the next chord, the leading tone can stay or move stepwise ascending, but never descending.
  2. If the leading note is part of the 3rd scale degree chord (therefore not featuring dominant function) it can move freely.
  3. If we have reached the leading tone from the root, it can move freely.
  4. In a change of disposition of the same chord, or in a change of disposition between 2 chords of the same dominant functionality (V-VII or vice versa) between 2 consecutive measures. In addition, within each bar, the non-resolution of the leading note will not be taken into account, since it will be considered as a change of disposition of the same chord.
  5. Indirect resolution of the leading note is allowed.

Sharpmony will detect wrong leading note movements and mark the corresponding note with LIME color.

Circles, lines, numbers and red text in the example have been added to the correction provided by Sharpmony.

Parallel Sixth Progression - Counterpoint (DORADO)

Using three or more consecutive thirds or sixths in strong part is not allowed.

Sharpmony will detect this and mark it as an error, the first one with the DORADO color.

The lines, numbers and texts in red in the following example have been added to the correction of Sharpmony correction.

Counterpoint Begining and Ending - Counterpoint (CORAL)

Any counterpoint must begin and end with the first degree of the key without inversions (5) or in first inversion (6). Moreover, the last note must always be in first species, regardless of the species in which the exercise is being performed.

Likewise, in the first bar, the entries of the voices should be started in a staggered way (starting with silence), except in the first species when both voices begins at the same time.

Sharpmony Sharpmony will detect if the beginning and the end of the exercise follows the above described rules, and in case of error, it will mark it with the CORAL color.

The lines, numbers and texts in red in the following example have been added to the correction of Sharpmony.

Final progression - Counterpoint (AGUAMARINA)

All the counterpoint exercises should end with the cadence: Dominant - Tonic function, where the dominant function can be the degrees V, V6, VII5/ or VII6; and the tonic can be I or I6.

Sharpmony will analyze and check it it will mark it with the color AGUAMARINA, if this rule is not fulfilled.

The box, Roman numerals, as well as the red text in the following example, have been added to Sharpmony's correction.

Duplicated note in the same voice - Counterpoint (ULTRAMARINE)

It is not allowed to repeat a given note consecutively from first to third species counterpoint. In 4th species it can be repeated as a delayed note, In 5th species this rule is not applied. On the other hand, a given melodic fragment (3 or more consecutive notes) cannot be repeated more than twice. Sharpmony will check and detect repetitions and mark the notes with ULTRAMARINE color.

The box and red text has been added to the following example.

Dissonant Interval - Counterpoint (TURQUESA)

All harmonic intervals that do not belong to the real notes of the triad chord formed with respect to the bass voice, will be considered as dissonante, and Sharpmony will mark them with the TURQUESA color.

In addition, any harmonic interval that does not correspond to the figured bass (whether consonant or dissonant) will also be considered dissonance, i.e., it will be considered a dissonant harmonic interval. In this case, only the dissonance in the weak part will be allowed, provided that it is maintained from the previous bar and is resolved by stepwise descending.

From the fourth species on, the dissonance of harmonic interval in the strong part of the measure will also be allowed, as long as it is prepared, and the dissonant harmonic interval of augmented second resulting from altering the leading note will also be allowed in minor mode (in strong or weak part).

Melodic Leap - Counterpoint (AZUL CIELO)

Large melodic leaps (from 6th onwards) are allowed, even dissonant leaps, as long as they are followed by stepwise movement in the opposite direction.

Arpeggio - Counterpoint (YELLOW)

Arpeggios including 3 or more consecutive notes of a single chord is not allowed.

Harmonic dissonances in strong and weak beats - Counterpoint (BLUE)

Observations

Figured Bass: Exercises can be performed without figured bass, so that the app will not check if the chord corresponds to a given figured bass.

Rests: Sharpmony only analyses chord notes, so in the case of rests it will mark error, if the remaining notes does not correspond to a proper chord.

Inversions: In the exercises performed in the app (2 voices), only the fundamentals of triad chords (5) and the first inversion (6) can be used. Therefore, do not use the second inversion (6/4), nor chords that are not triads.

Error checking: In order for Sharpmony to analyze and mark specific errors, users must set the error checks by selecting those errors that we want Sharpmony to detect.

Bibliography: Harmony Rules employed have compiled from:

  • Harmony, 5th edition, Walter Piston. WW Norton & Co.
  • Counterpoint Manual, Walter Piston, New York 1947
  • Tratado de Armonía, Joaquín Zamacois, Span Press Universitaria.
  • Armonía Tonal, Luis Blanes, Real Musical.

Creators: Sharpmony has been designed and created by:

  • Project management and A.I. development: Francisco Fernández de Vega
  • Web and Apps Development: Jorge Alvarado Díaz
  • Web editor: Abel Sánchez Venegas

They have collaborated in the development of Sharpmony:

  • Elia Pacioni

Consultants: Sharpmony has also been advised by:

  • Juan Antonio Rodríguez García, Harmony teacher at the Conservatorio Profesional de Música "Luis Gordillo", Montijo, Badajoz.
  • José Bugallo Senra, Harmony teacher at the Conservatorio Profesional de Lalín, Pontevedra.
  • José Ignacio de la Peña, Director of the Conservatorio Oficial de Música "Estaban Sánchez", Mérida, Badajoz, and Harmony teacher at the same.

1st SPECIES COUNTERPOINT

Both voices move exactly at the same rate. These general rules are applied:

  1. The succession of three or more 3rds or 6ths are not allowed.
  2. The repetition of a melodic fragment (3 or more notes) more than 2 times, are not allowed. Likewise, repetition of a single note is not allowed (except in the 4th species if they are syncopated; and 5th species).
  3. A prolonged note will not be allowed from measure to measure (except in the 4th and 5th species).
  4. The endings will always end in the 1st species and with the degrees: V/VII - I.
  5. No arpeggios are allowed (3 or more notes in a row describing the notes of the same triad chord).
  6. Unisons are allowed at the beginning and at the end in the strong or weak part; and the unison in course as long as it is in the weak part. The arrival and departure of the unison will be done by contrary or oblique movement in order not to embroider the unison.
  7. The crossing of voices is allowed momentarily.
  8. Large melodic leaps (from 6th onwards) are allowed, even dissonant leaps, as long as they are then followed by joint degree and contrary movement to compensate the tension of such a leap.

2nd SPECIES COUNTERPOINT

In the second species two half notes are set against each whole note. These general rules are applied:

  1. In this second and successive species, the first bar will feature two voices, the cantus firms beginning before the other one.
  2. Consonance in strong time will be used, while consonance or dissonance can both be used in the weak time. When we speak of consonance, we are referring to belonging to the degree of the established chord.
  3. From the 2nd species onwards, more than one chord per measure is allowed.
  4. The non-consecutive (indirect) 5th and 8th chords are only allowed if they are separated by at least more than one proportion of the cf. That is, if the cf is formed by whole notes, then the 5th/8th must be separated by more than one whole; if the cf is formed by half notes, then it must be separated by more than one half note, and so on.

3rd SPECIES COUNTERPOINT

4 quarter notes are set against each whole note. This is a 4:1 rhythmic ratio. The general rules for previous species will be applied, and these new ones must be followed:

  1. The 1st of the 4 quarter notes will be in consonance with the whole note, while the other 3 notes may be in consonance or dissonance. Ornamental notes can be used:
    1. Dissonant note that makes a leap of major or minor third that goes to a consonance and occurs between the 2nd and 3rd notes.
  2. The use of 2 dissonances in a row is allowed, as long as they come from and are directed by joint degree.
  3. In minor mode, the dissonant harmonic interval of augmented second is allowed, resulting from the alteration of the lead note, either in strong or weak part.

Error controls

The 3rd species counterpoint error controls available are shown below

Wrong note movement - Third species counterpoint (KAKI OSCURO)

4th SPECIES COUNTERPOINT

2 notes are set against each syncopated note in binary measure. The general rules for previous species will be applied, and these new ones must be followed:

  1. The strong beat of the first measure can be in consonance or dissonance. Preferably use dissonance (prepared) in strong time and always resolve in consonance. Normally dissonances resolve downward, except for notes with obligatory resolution such as the leading note.
  2. The exercise will not include any rest, keeping notes with syncopations except in the following cases:
    1. First measure: the entries of the voices will be successive, starting first the cantus firmus and then the other voice.
    2. Penultimate measure: the syncopation will be broken on the last note.
    3. Last measure: the 2 voices will end in the first species (note against note).
(*) Note: While the exercise is being edited in sharpmony (both APP or web), the slurs will not appear from bar to bar, however, they will appear in the PDF that shows the checking of the exercise.

5th SPECIES COUNTERPOINT

(Not available yet)

Error controls

The 5th species counterpoint error controls available are shown below

Contrapunto 5ª especie permitido - Contrapunto (AQUA)
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