satb-conventions · brady-hamm-omt-satb

Music theorists sometimes simplify compositions into four parts (or voices ) in order to make their harmonic content more readily accessible. This practice is called SATB style , abbreviated after the four common voice parts of a choir–– soprano (S), alto (A), tenor (T), and bass (B). ... There should be no more than an octave between adjacent upper voices (soprano and alto, alto and tenor) and no more than a twelfth between the tenor and bass. ... The ranges of voices should not cross. ... However, there is an exception to this: the leading tone is never doubled. Other tendency tones, such as chordal sevenths , are also never doubled.