Fourth Species Counterpoint

Fourth Species deals with syncopation. In duple meter one voice has two notes to each one of the other parts, and the second of each pair is tied forward. The second of each pair is the offbeat note, so each measure begins with a note held from before. The accented note that begins each measure can be either dissonant or consonant, but if dissonant it must resolve by step to a consonance. The second note of each measure must always be consonant. At the final cadence, however, or on rare occasions within the composition, you can revert to Second Species (we'll allow one such pre-cadence reversion for every 8 notes of the cantus firmus): In a triple meter, the active voice will have three notes to each one of the other parts, and the third note of each group will be tied forward. In triple meter the second note of each group can be a dissonant passing or neighbor tone, though again the third note of each group must be consonant.

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