Parallel fifths occur when two voices move in perfect fifths (or octaves) in the same direction. This creates a harmonic progression that is considered undesirable in traditional voice leading.
Imagine two friends walking side by side, always taking the exact same steps at the exact same time. It may sound synchronized and harmonious at first, but after a while, it becomes predictable and lacks variety.
Voice Leading: The way individual melodic lines (voices) move and interact with each other within a musical composition.
Perfect Fifths: An interval of five whole steps between two pitches.
Octaves: An interval of eight whole steps between two pitches.
AP Music Theory - 4.1 Harmony and Voice Leading I
AP Music Theory - 4.2 SATB Voice Leading
AP Music Theory - 4.4 Voice Leading with Seventh Chords
AP Music Theory - 4.5 Voice Leading with Seventh Chords in Inversions
AP Music Theory - 5.1 Adding Predominant Function IV (iv) and ii (ii0) to a Melodic Phrase
AP Music Theory - AP Music Theory Free Response Help - FRQ/LEQ
AP Music Theory - Unit 4 Overview: Harmony and Voice Leading I (Chord Function, Cadence, and Phrase)
AP Music Theory - Unit 5 Overview: Harmony and Voice Leading II (Chord Progressions and Predominant Function)
AP Music Theory - 6.7 Harmonic Sequences
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