Do parallel octaves

A parallel octave refers only to two consecutive notes! If you have two or more instruments that are intentionally arranged to play the same voice (in unison or) one or more octaves apart, then you have octave doubling, which gives you a fat sound.

1. What does parallel octaves mean?
2. What's wrong with parallel octaves?
3. How do you avoid parallel octaves?
4. What are consecutive octaves?

What does parallel octaves mean?

Of course, parallel octaves occur when instruments or voices explicitly double each other, but in that context the listener is not meant to hear separate melodies: the composer has assigned the same line to multiple players to achieve a certain sonority, not to suggest polyphony. ...

What's wrong with parallel octaves?

Consecutive fifths are avoided in part because they cause a loss of individuality between parts. This lack of individuality is even more pronounced when parts move in parallel octaves or in unison. These are therefore also generally forbidden among independently moving parts.

How do you avoid parallel octaves?

If you move every voice as little as you possibly can, then perfect fifths and octaves will mostly take care of themselves. Anytime you move the root by a third, just hold two notes in common and move the third by a step. Any time you move a fifth, hold the common tone and move the other two notes of the chord by step.

What are consecutive octaves?

When there are perfect 5ths in the same two parts one after the other, we call them “consecutive 5ths”. Now the perfect 5th in the second chord is between the alto and tenor parts – the 5ths are no longer consecutive, because they are in different parts.