Download Non-chord Tones

Non-chord Tones
AP Music Theory
Mr. Silvagni
Non-chord tones
• Non-chord tones (non-harmonic tones) are
parts of a melody that are not part of the
harmony
• They can be found in any voice and are used
to embellish the music
• They may be accented (on a downbeat) or
unaccented (on an upbeat)
• Three parts: Preparation (note before), NCT,
resolution (note after)
Passing Tones
• Passing tone (PT) is approached and left by
step in the same direction (i.e. C – D – E or E –
D – C)
– Can be accented or unaccented
– Can be diatonic (part of the scale) or chromatic
(non-diatonic, specifically in half steps [C – C# - D])
Neighbor Tones
• Neighbor tone (NT) is approached by step and
left by step back to the original note (i.e. C – B – C
or C – D – C)
– Can be accented or unaccented
– Can be diatonic or chromatic (again specifically half
step)
– Incomplete neighbor or cambiata – approached by
leap and resolved by step in opposite direction in
“weak rhythmic position”
– Neighbor group or changing tone – two consecutive
NCTs above and below original note (i.e. C – D – B – C)
Other NCTs
• Appoggiatura (App) – a specific incomplete neighbor
that is approached by leap up and resolved by step
down
– It is only accented…may sound like a suspension
• Escape tone or échappée (ET) – a specific incomplete
neighbor that is approached by step and resolved by
leap in the opposite direction
– It is only unaccented
• Anticipation (Ant) – approached by step and resolved
with the same note
– The Ant. must not be part of the previous chord but must
be part of the next chord
– It is only unaccented
Suspensions and Retardations
• Suspension (Sus) – approached by the same note
and resolves by step down
– A note in the preparation chord is held over and
becomes a NCT, which is then resolved by step into a
chord tone
– Suspensions are labeled by their intervallic
relationship from the bass note (i.e. 9-8, 7-6, 4-3)
– They may be connected by a tie…if not, they are
rearticulated suspensions
• Retardation (Ret) – approached by same note and
resolves by step up
– Not very common, suspension with upward resolution