Reply To: In the Evening I Will Sing

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#3211

Sure, Evan. A standard chord has three notes: a root, a third, and a fifth. Some solfege examples are do-mi-so, or so-ti-re.

A chord that is missing a third, having a root and a fifth, is called an open fifth. An example of an open fifth is a chord with do and so, with no mi.

If you are writing in standard counterpoint (which is recommended), every chord in your piece should have a third (with a few exceptions), but the fifth is optional. There are several passing chords in your piece that are half diminished sevenths, ti-re-fa-la, that have no re. I’m not sure if these are the open fifths Lynn means. The penultimate measure has an open fifth that could be very pleasant if changed to a suspension, te-la in half notes, instead of do-ti-la.

Thanks for sharing your composition!