Who this is for
Learners who know intervals and voice leading and want to combine melodies: for choral and hymn writing, arranging, counter-melodies and fugues. Already hear two-part writing clearly? Test out on Day 5.
Best done after: Voice Leading, Intervals. It is advice, not a rule: every lesson has short "rusty on…?" boxes for anything you skipped.
Why learn this
Chords tell you which notes sound together. **Counterpoint** tells you how each line gets there, so that every part is a pleasure to sing or play and the whole still fits. It is the craft behind hymn harmony, string quartets, fugues, bass lines and the counter-melodies that make arrangements feel alive.
This program takes the classical starting point, two lines note against note, and teaches it as a set of **tendencies**: guidelines that explain why some combinations sound independent and others merge. Rock, pop and jazz break them all the time, and knowing them tells you what you gain when you do.
What you will be able to do
- Why independent lines matter
- The four kinds of motion: parallel, similar, contrary, oblique
- Consonance and dissonance between two voices
- Why parallel fifths and octaves are avoided
- Writing a second line note against note
The 5-day plan
- Two lines at once. Say why independent lines matter and name the four kinds of motion.
- Consonance and dissonance. Sort the intervals between two voices into perfect consonances, imperfect consonances and dissonances.
- Parallel fifths and octaves. Spot parallel fifths and octaves and say why they weaken two-part writing.
- Note against note. Know the guidelines for writing a second line note against note.
- Test day: two lines. Show you can name the motion, sort the intervals and spot the parallels.
How each session works
Every day follows the shape of a workout. It starts with a warm-up that reviews earlier days, then technique: a short, plain explanation with a small interactive tool to try it on. Then come the working sets, drills with instant feedback, and a finisher, a short test with a pass mark so you only build on things you can do. A cool-down recaps the day and previews the next.
Choose your split
The daily split is a session a day: done in a week. The easy split is a session every other day, with rest days between: two weeks, and a gentler pace. On your own pace there is no schedule. Nothing is ever locked, and you can change split at any time.
What comes next
Rhythm in Depth: The 5-Day Program. See the whole training plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is counterpoint only for classical music?
No. Any time two melodies sound together (a vocal harmony, a bass line against a tune, a guitar lick answering a singer) counterpoint is at work. Classical rules are the clearest way to learn it.
Are parallel fifths really forbidden?
In strict classical writing they are avoided because the lines fuse into one. In rock and pop, parallel fifths (power chords) are a signature sound. The rule explains the effect; you decide when you want it.
What is "note against note"?
The simplest kind of counterpoint (first species): every note in one line is matched by exactly one note in the other, so you can concentrate on how the intervals and motions work.
Do I need to read music?
It helps, since two lines are easiest to see on the staff. The drills show both lines for you and explain every answer.