A HUGE NO NO THAT YOU WILL BURN IN HELL FOR WRITING.

Parallel fifths refer to consecutive intervals occuring consecutively in a horizontal manner.

This means, I have an interval of a fifth in quarter notes on beat one, and then, even though I change pitch on each voice, on beat two they are still a fifth apart. This destroys the sonic and audible tension which makes music interesting. It also degrades counterpoint, harmonic and melodic invention, and overall goodness of whatever it is you are setting to staff paper.

This doesn't just apply to fifths, either. It also applies to octaves and of course, unisons. Parallel occurences of other intervals isn't nearly as frowned upon as fifths or octaves, but you should try to keep it to a minimum if you can.

So, when you are composing that love song for your girlfriend she won't know the difference, but if you are turning this in to me, don't front or I'll have you killed.

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