S

Spacing and Doubling

• Chords are usually spaced with the largest gaps at the bottom (i.e. between the lowest parts) unless the aim is to create a darker, murkier texture. In a basic MDH texture your bass instruments will usually have the same line to avoid murkiness.
• Parts avoid crossing unnecessarily (particularly above a melody at the top of the texture)
• It is normal to include all the notes of a triad or seventh (although the fifth or the third are sometimes omitted in the latter)
• The most common note to double in a chord is the root

L

Leaps

• Avoid unnecessary leaps in melodies (a dramatic leap in a melody is fine – a random leap of a ninth in the viola part is probably not)
• Avoid two large leaps in the same direction

A

Augmented and diminished intervals

• In melodies, be aware of augmented and diminished intervals (particularly augmented seconds and tritones) – if you overuse them your melody will sound odd.

P

Parallels (5^ths / 8^ves)

• Avoid consecutive parallel octaves and fifths, particularly between the melody and the bass
• Octaves used to double a melodic line or the bass line as reinforcement are fine