Editing Counterpoint (section)

===Third species===
{{Image frame|content=<score sound="1"> {
# (set-global-staff-size 16)
\relative c' {
\new PianoStaff <<
\new Staff {
d e f g a b c d
e d c b a b c a g a b cis d1
\bar "|." }
\new Staff {
d,1 f g f e d
}
>>
}
}
</score>
<br />Short example of "third species" counterpoint
}}
In ''third species'' counterpoint, four (or three, etc.) notes move against each longer note in the given part.

Three special figures are introduced into third species and later added to fifth species, and ultimately outside the restrictions of ''species writing''. There are three figures to consider: The ''nota [[cambiata]]'', ''double neighbor tones'', and ''double passing tones''.

Double neighbor tones: the figure is prolonged over four beats and allows special dissonances. The upper and lower tones are prepared on beat 1 and resolved on beat 4. The fifth note or downbeat of the next measure should move by step in the same direction as the last two notes of the double neighbor figure. Lastly a double passing tone allows two dissonant passing tones in a row. The figure would consist of 4 notes moving in the same direction by step. The two notes that allow dissonance would be beat 2 and 3 or 3 and 4. The dissonant interval of a fourth would proceed into a diminished fifth and the next note would resolve at the interval of a sixth.{{sfn|Salzer|Schachter1989|page={{Page needed|date=October 2015}}}}
[[File:Ascending Double Passing Tone.jpg|thumb|Example of a double passing tone in which the two middle notes are a dissonant interval from the cantus firmus, a fourth and a diminished fifth]]
[[File:Descending Double Neighbor Figure.jpg|thumb|Example of a descending double neighbor figure against a cantus firmus]]
[[File:Ascending Double Neighbor Figure.jpg|thumb|Example of an ascending double neighbor figure (with an interesting tritone leap at the end) against a cantus firmus]]