Guidelines

for 1st and 2nd Species Counterpoint

1st Species:

Starting note: To begin, you must start with a unison, 3rd, 5th, octave, or 10th above the C.F.
Consonant Intervals: Unisons, major/minor 3rds and 6ths, P5s, and any of these plus an 8ve.
Dissonant Intervals: 2nds, 4ths, and 7ths, and any of these plus an 8ve.
Skips: You may have skips outlining any major/minor interval up to a 6th, and octaves. You
cannot skip in the interval of a tri-tone (A4 or d5), a seventh, or any interval greater than an
octave. If you have multiple skips in the same direction, the interval outlined by the
farthest two intervals cannot be a seventh, or any interval greater than an octave:

If you skip an octave, it must be preceded and followed by a change of direction:

Parallel motion: Parallel Unisons, 5ths and 8ves are forbidden.
Direct 5ths and 8ves: 5ths and 8ves must be approached by opposite direction:

Parallel 3rds and 6ths are OK, but dont use more than 3 in a row of any interval. BORING!!
Ending: The last note above the counterpoint must be a unison, 3rd, 5th, 8ve, or 10th, and the
last note must be approached by step.

2nd Species:
All of the rules of 1st species apply, and:

Repeated notes: Repeated notes in 2nd species are not allowed.

First and last measure: You may begin the first measure with a half rest, but this is the only
place you can use a rest in 2nd species. The second to last measure may be a whole note, and
the last measure has to be a whole note. Same ending rules apply (1,3,5,8, or 10 by step)
Passing tones: 2nd species allows the use of passing tones, but only on the 2nd half note of a
measure. Passing tones must occur between to consonant intervals, all of which must go the
same direction by step.

RIGHT:

WRONG:

Parallel 5ths and parallel 8ves are forbidden between consecutive intervals (weak beat to
strong beat or strong beat to weak beat) as well as between consecutive strong beats.
Direct 5ths and 8ves are forbidden between consecutive intervals.