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Here below is a sequence of chords C-G-C-E -> G-G-B-D in which, following the teacher who wrote it, there is no consecutive fifths.

enter image description here (source)

Why aren't C-G -> G-D, respectively present in those chords, considered as consecutive fifths ?

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  • Ask your teacher about 'power chords'..!
    – Tim
    May 31, 2020 at 15:50
  • ask your teacher about covered fifths/octaves and how they could be avoided in this example. (in my opinion it is no crime to have them ... you'll find always consecutive fifths in Renaissance music and later eras. Jun 1, 2020 at 8:06

4 Answers 4

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The common-practice prohibition on consecutive (better called parallel) fifths is about the same pair of voices, not anywhere in the chord. All root position major and minor triads will have a fifth somewhere, but it’s only considered a voice leading problem if the fifths of two consecutive chords are between the same two voices. In your example, the fifth of the first chord is between the bass and the tenor, and the fifth of the second chord is between the bass and soprano, so there’s no problem. The only ways there would be an error here is if either the soprano had a G in the first chord, of the tenor had a D in the second chord.

Again, any root position major or minor triads will have a fifth (always above the bass, and potentially between an upper-voice pair too), so if the rule prohibited any consecutive fifths all harmonic movement would be impossible.

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  • If the parallel fifths rule forbade all consecutive perfect fifths, we'd probably go with fifthless voicings or use diminished fifths as appropriate.
    – Dekkadeci
    May 31, 2020 at 13:23
  • You are correct that the rule is about fifths in the same pair of voices. But your last statement implies that the term "consecutive fifths" refers to fifths regardless of voices. It doesn't. "Consecutive fifths" refers specifically to 5ths (or 12ths) in the same pair of voices.
    – Rosie F
    May 31, 2020 at 18:25
  • "Any consecutive fifths" is supposed to mean "consecutive fifths between any voices" in the last statement. But, more importantly, I think the statement needs to say "root position harmony would be impossible." Jun 1, 2020 at 12:43
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Yes, in the first chord there's a 5th between the bass and tenor voices, in the second chord there's one between tenor and soprano. They're both 5ths, one comes after the other so in common parlance they could be described as consecutive. (And you'd be hard-pressed to find ANY piece of 4-part harmony that didn't constantly do this.)

But this is not what we mean by 'consecutive 5ths' in the language of music. The SAME pair of voices must form a 5th in adjacent chords. As @Tim says, 'Parallel 5ths' are a more explanatory name.

A (in my picture below) is not consecutive 5ths. B is. (And they both have consecutive 3rds, which is fine.)

Also note we're talking about the rules for a particular style of 4-voice writing. Different rules apply in 'species' counterpoint, and in styles that DON'T attempt to emulate Bach's chorale writing. And C would be perfectly acceptable in piano writing of any era.

enter image description here

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  • The point may be better illustrated by mentioning that the OP actually has parallel thirds in his example. That is not verboten, but it may help him get the concept.
    – Neil Meyer
    May 31, 2020 at 13:59
  • @NeilMeyer *them
    – Sean
    May 31, 2020 at 21:10
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You seem to mix consecutive fifths (as parallels of voices) with two consecutive chords in an interval of a fifth:

In music, consecutive fifths, or parallel fifths, are progressions in which the interval of a perfect fifth is followed by a different perfect fifth between the same two musical parts (or voices)

(wikipedia)

Like other answers say "consecutive fifths" in music seem to refer to fifth parallels (which must be avoided for reasons of voice leading and autonomy of voices.)

But your example is a step of a fourth in the bass (and a fifth in the chord progression)

Maybe you mean this point:

hidden or covered fifths!

you will always find a hidden fifth (which also should be avoided between the border voices -> tenor and bass.

Hidden consecutives:

So-called hidden consecutives, also called direct or covered octaves or fifths,[11][nb 3] occur when two independent parts approach a single perfect fifth or octave by similar motion instead of oblique or contrary motion. A single fifth or octave approached this way is sometimes called an exposed fifth or exposed octave. Conventional style dictates that such a progression be avoided; but it is sometimes permitted under certain conditions, such as the following: the interval does not involve either the highest or the lowest part, the interval does not occur between both of those extreme parts.

To avoid the hidden fifths the bass voice should be leaded a fifth up C-g or starting an octave lower: C-G

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Consecutive fifths are better called parallel fifths. Where two notes that are a 5th apart are followed directly by two others, the same fifth apart. Thus creating parallel motion in the piece. Other notes in other voices may muddy the waters, as here, but there are no parallel fifths. Which is probably what teacher meant to say.

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  • 2
    There's nothing wrong with the term "consecutive fifths". It's a technical term used in teaching music. And although it doesn't apply to the OP's example, "consecutive fifths" can apply to a fifth and a 12th -- which are not parallel. And unlike Laurence's answer, this one fails to state why the fifths in the OP's example are fine.
    – Rosie F
    May 31, 2020 at 18:20

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