Similar motion means that two voices move in the same direction, thereby changing the generic vertical interval between them. Each voice can move stepwise or by leap, regardless of the other voice. The direction of both voices can change with every note or remain the same for several notes. Similar motion tends not to last too long in contrapuntal settings, since these usually favour contrary motion. The example below is thus more a demonstration of similar motion than a voice leading that might occur in actual music.
When, however, the generic vertical interval between the two voices is preserved, we speak of parallel motion.
Other contrapuntal motions are: