Why Are Parallel Fifths Bad Voice Leading?

A chord progression full of parallel fifths is musically weak and problematic. Learn why, by watching this video which compares the same chords progression both with and without parallel fifths. Sing the missing part, and discover how good voice leading makes hitting your notes much more easy!


Note: this video was created with HarmonyBuilder (Basic) software. http://www.harmonybuilder.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• parallel
• fifths
• octaves
• voice
• leading
• chord
• progression
• part
• harmony
• polyphony
• music
• rules
• melody
• Harmony
• Builder
• score

[MrArtEffete]

What you're explaining are devices composers developed to make themselves 'free' of static harmony, or break through a wall. From the viewpoint of a student seeing this, static harmony seems as freedom from it. Its a regression they can perceive as a step forward. Its how we got minimalism; but students are going to have to 'grow backwards' to go forward. Its bad teaching saying things are 'bad' and not qualifying that response. All music can use the same stuff. Teach creativity with music.

[ComposerOnline]

@MrArtEffete

I wouldn't agree that the parallel fifth rule and other similar rules were developed from a desire to break from static harmony. These rules came before static harmony was even 'invented". They emerged from the art of polyphony, which only later became codified as vertical chord structures. Not sure about going backwards to go forward. I would call that artistic devolution or regression. I believe art always evolves, never repeating itself.

[KiptaviusFuzz]

This is a good video. Very informative. It should have more views.

[kongming819]

A very very excellent video! I always wondered why this is, but now it makes perfect sense. An excellent way to describe it!

But we all know that they're bad because people like kittens, and not a murderous Bach :)

[ixsetf]

@Funmichi The main problem with parallel fifths in classical music is that they tend to blend the voices together, this doesn't make any individual melody sound bad. However, if you want to create music based off of counterpoint it should have independent melodies, and parallel fifths detract from independence. If you want to write popular music this doesn't matter since counterpoint isn't used.

[thisisntagoodname]

If you made a video on HOW to avoid writing parallel 5ths (though I'll assume that'd be a bit more difficult to do), I'd be very appreciative.

In my theory classes we have to write four part voice leading and I spend an extra hour or so checking the intervals of EVERY single part, melodically and harmony just so I can avoid parallel 5ths and 8ves.

[AliTaylor777]

@Funmichi Neither did Beethoven....

[Funmichi]

i like the melody with the parallel fifths. i dont understand it why it is weak or should be avoided.

[SplinterCell37]

Wow. This makes so much sense.

[ChronoGXay]

I think these videos are INVALUABLE, because they have the viewer(s) participate in demonstrating why parallel fifths are so difficult to sing, so that the viewer(s) can experience the difficulty for themself! Brilliant! :D

[ChronoGXay]

@leetfeetman - You just defeated yourself with your own argument. ("It may be hard to sing in Parallel Fifths, but it can be done IF THERE WAS ENOUGH PRACTICE TIME"). You need to do more research... It IS in fact easier to sing a piece of music when it isn't strewn with Parallel/Consecutive/Hidden Fifths and Octaves. Listen to popular music where the guitarist is moving one chord shape up and down the neck for I-IV-V. Even when using IV/IV, IV/V, IV/V, and V/V, does it not sound rather odd?