Download Non-Harmonic Tones Harmonic Tones

Quick Access Guide to NonNon-Harmonic Tones
© 2012 Cindy Johnson—Permission Granted to Print and Copy for Personal Use and Teaching
Type of Non-Harmonic
Tone
Graphic
Non-Harmonic Tone
Approached By
Non-Harmonic Tone
Resolves By
See pages 2-3 for more detailed
explanations of Non-Harmonic Tones
Direction of
Resolution
Passing Tone
Step
Step
Same Direction as Approach
Neighboring Tone
Step
Step
Opposite Direction of
Approach
Suspension
Same Note
Step
Downwards
Retardation
Same Note
Step
Upwards
Appoggiatura
Leap
Step
Opposite Direction of
Leap
Anticipation
Step
Same Note
Same Note
Escaped Tone
Step
Leap
Opposite Direction as
Approach
Changing Tone
Step (then jumps a 3rd
in opposite direction)
Step
Same Note as Starting Note
Guide to NonNon-Harmonic Tones
Have you ever looked at music and wondered why there may be notes which don’t appear to belong to a chord? Notes that
are not part of a chord are called Non-Harmonic Tones and are usually found melodically between two harmonic tones
(notes that belong to a chord). Most may appear on the beat or in between the beat. Non-Harmonic Tones can be narrowed
down further to a specific name/type which is dependant upon whether they are approached stepwise or by leap and
resolve either stepwise or by leap. Some of these non-harmonic tones may be known by other names besides these.
Below are examples of the most common NonNon-Harmonic Tones and their definitions:
Passing Tone:
Tone A NonNon-Harmonic Tone which is found stepwise between harmonic notes of different pitches.
A Passing Tone is approached stepwise and resolves stepwise in the same direction. It may be found on
the beat as in the first examples (Accented Passing Tone) or between the beat as in the second examples
(Unaccented Passing Tone).
Accented
Passing Tone
Unaccented
Passing Tone
Neighboring Tone:
Tone NonNon-Harmonic Tone which is found stepwise between two harmonic notes of the same
pitch. When a Neighboring Tone is found stepwise above the harmonic tones, it is called an Upper
Neighboring Tone as in the first two examples; when it is found stepwise below the harmonic tones, it is
called a Lower Neighboring Tone as in the last two examples. Usually a Neighboring Tone is unaccented
(falls between the beat) although it can fall on the beat.
Unaccented
Upper Neighbor
Accented
Upper Neighbor
Unaccented
Lower Neighbor
Accented
Lower Neighbor
Suspension:
Suspension NonNon-Harmonic Tone which is preceded by the same note and resolves dowards by one-half or
one whole step. It may be tied to the note that precedes it.
Suspension (Tied)
Suspension
Retardation:
Retardation: When a suspension resolves upwards, it is called a Retardation.
Retardation.
Retardation
Appoggiatura:
Appoggiatura NonNon-Harmonic Tone which is approached by leap and usually resolves stepwise in the
opposite direction. An Appoggiatura may be found on the beat or between the beat.
Appoggiatura
Anticipation:
Anticipation NonNon-Harmonic Tone that is the same note as the harmonic note that follows it and falls in a
weak rhythmic location.
Anticipation
Escaped Tone:
Tone NonNon-Harmonic Tone which is approached by step and resolves by leap in the opposite
direction of the approach.
Escaped Tone
Changing Tone:
Tone These NonNon-Harmonic Tones
Tones involve a total of 4 notes. The first and last notes involved are
the same note (the harmonic tones) and the Changing Tones are the 2 notes in the middle. The first
Changing Tone is approached by step (either up or down) and it jumps an interval of a third in the
opposite direction. Then it resolves by step to the last note.
Changing Tone