Essentials of Music Theory: Elementary

by Carl E. Gardner

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N. B. Although doubled in the above examples, the fundamental of the subtonic triad is seldom doubled in four voice writing and if doubled, a bad progression results in many cases.

The three upper voices in a fundamental chord may be arranged in a different manner:—

With the fundamental in the soprano:—

.

With the third in the soprano:—

.

If the three upper voices do not exceed the compass of an octave, the chord is said to be in "close position." If the three upper voices exceed the compass of an octave, the chord is said to be in "open position."