Close harmony is an
arrangement of the
notes of
chords within a narrow
range, usually notes that are no more than an
octave apart. It is different from
open harmony or
voicing in that it uses each part on the closest harmonizing note (such as - C4, E4, G4), while the open voicing uses a broader pitch array (like - C3, G3, E4) expanding the harmonic range past the octave. Close harmony or voicing can refer to both instrumental and vocal arrangements. It can follow the standard
voice-leading rules of classical harmony, as in
string quartets or
Bach's Chorales, or proceed in
parallel motion with the melody in 3rds or 6ths.