What is contrary motion in music?

Contrary motion is when two musical lines move in opposite directions—one line goes up while the other goes down. You’ll hear it in classical, jazz, and modern music as a way to add tension, movement, and interest to a phrase or progression.

How can I practice contrary motion on bass?

A simple way is to practice scales where the bass line moves in one direction while another part (like a piano, track, or your own singing) moves in the opposite direction. You can also walk a bass line downward while the melody or chords move upward, paying attention to how that push-pull changes the emotion.

What’s the difference between contrary motion and parallel motion?

In contrary motion, the lines move in opposite directions; in parallel motion, they move in the same direction, keeping the same interval between them. Contrary motion tends to feel more dramatic and voice-leading oriented, while parallel motion often feels more block-like and modern.