8740 / 18210 · Workshop 71 — Countermelody and Inner-Line Arranging: Writing a Second Voice That Supports the Tune Without Fighting It← prev⊞ allnext →
71.12Level 7 — avoid constant thirds below melody
A common beginner approach:
“harmonize melody in thirds.”
That creates a supporting harmony line, but not necessarily a true countermelody.
A countermelody should sometimes:
- move differently
- rest differently
- have its own contour
Otherwise it is simply harmonization.