Sight Reading Popular Music Voice Lines

by Matt Dennis

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Each line of music is called a VOICE, very much like a singer's voice, and the notes of any line add up to the time value, in each measure, indicated by the time signature of the piece.

The MELODY alone would be ONE VOICE, but we are concerned with TWO, THREE, or FOUR VOICE patterns, to take care of accompaniment and harmonization of the Melody. To understand the function of such VOICE lines, compare to the voices of a soloist, duo, trio, or quartet of singers. The average pop piece will use a combination of voice lines.

A. TWO VOICE pattern... Most popular... basic and easiest to read and play.

• 1st voice: Right hand plays the Melody in the treble clef, solo, or with added harmony.
• 2nd voice: Left hand plays the Bass accompaniment in the bass clef.

B. THREE VOICE pattern... Next most popular, as it allows for more harmony and rhytm accompaniment, with the divided fingers of the right hand.

• 1st Voice: Right hand plays the Melody with UPPER fingers of the hand
• 2nd Voice: Right hand plays harmony or rhythm accompaniment with the LOWER fingers.
• 3rd Voice: Left hand plays the Bass accompaniment.

C. FOUR VOICE pattern... More difficult, but interesting as it provides a more complete harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment to a melody.

• 1st Voice: Right hand plays the melody with the upper fingers of the hand
• 2nd Voice: Right hand plays harmony or rhythm accompaniment with lower fingers
• 3rd Voice: Left hand plays additional harmony or rhythm accompaniment with upper fingers of the hand
• 4th Voice: Left hand plays the fundamental bass notes with lower fingers.

1st Voice - Melody 2nd Voice - Accompaniment 3rd voice - Accompaniment 4th voice - Bass

The stems of the notes go up or down depending on the voice lines the notes are following. You may play and hold a note while you play another note. Each voice has its own count of beats.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE of the four voice pattern, in 4/4 time with syncopation.

1st Voice - Melody 2nd Voice - Accompaniment (harmony) 3rd Voice - Accompaniment (harmony) 4th Voice - Bass

For excellent practice, examine sheet music you may have at hand, and notice the different voice lines of each selection. Recognize and play the lines.