Chords in SATB Style

SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) writing distributes a four-voice chord among four voices arranged by range. The soprano is the highest voice, typically notated stem-up on the treble staff; the alto is the second-highest, stem-down on the treble staff; the tenor is the third voice, stem-up on the bass staff; and the bass is the lowest, stem-down on the bass staff. Most notes in tonal music are SATB-style four-voice chords, making this the primary texture studied in undergraduate harmony.

Voice ranges define the boundaries of each part. Soprano: roughly B3–G5. Alto: G3–C5. Tenor: C3–G4. Bass: E2–C4. Voices should generally stay within these ranges; writing above or below strains the voice and sounds unnatural. The distance between soprano and alto, and between alto and tenor, should not exceed an octave (close position keeps all upper voices within an octave). The bass may be further from the tenor (open position).

Standard voice-leading rules govern SATB writing. Avoid parallel fifths and parallel octaves between any pair of voices — these destroy the independence of the lines. Avoid direct (hidden) fifths and octaves in the outer voices approaching by similar motion. The leading tone in the soprano typically resolves up by step to the tonic; the chordal seventh resolves down by step. Common tones between adjacent chords are held in the same voice where possible. These principles together ensure smooth, independent, and stylistically correct four-voice progressions.