In cases where the soprano line moves from scale degrees $\hat{2}$ to $\hat{1}$ and the leading tone ($\hat{7}$) occurs in an inner voice, it may skip down a third to scale degree $\hat{5}$ instead of resolving to $\hat{1}$—a phenomenon known as the *free resolution of the leading tone*.^[The terminology for this phenomenon is not universal. Other terms include the “frustrated leading tone” or the “leading-tone drop.”] As shown in **Example 1**, the leading tone ($\hat{7}$) in the alto line resolves downward to the dominant ($\hat{5}$) rather than the tonic ($\hat{1}$). This is permissible since the leading tone is still resolved by the soprano line. **Example 1.** Free resolution of the leading tone, open spacing. ![[example free resolution of the leading tone closed spacing.png]] ![[example free resolution of the leading tone closed spacing.mp3]]