Download Non-Chord Tones

Non Chord Tones
•A note that is either diatonic or chromatic that
is not a member of the chord.
•The note can be an NCT of its duration or it
could become a chord tone when the harmony
beneath it changes
Types of NCTs
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Passing tone (p)
Neighboring tone (n)
Suspension (s)
Retardation (r)
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Appoggiatura (app)
Escape Tone (e)
Neighbor Group (n. gr)
Anticipation (ant)
Pedal Point (ped)
Passing Tone (p)
• Usually occurs between two tones that are
separated at the interval of a third. The
passing tone takes the place of the scale
degree between the two other tones by
moving stepwise in one direction.
• Sometimes the passing tone fills the space
between two tones that are only a M2 apart.
This is called a chromatic passing tone.
Passing Tone (p)
• Approached by step.
• Left by step in the same direction.
Neighboring Tone (n)
• Used to embellish a single tone.
• The neighbor tone is approached by step and
left by step in the opposite direction.
• The neighbor tone may appear either above
or below the tone being embellished.
• These are called upper or lower neighbors.
• Neighboring tones may be either diatonic or
chromatic.
Neighboring Tone (n)
• Approached by step.
• Left by step in the opposite direction.
Suspension (s)
• Holds over (or suspends) a chord tone after
the other parts of the chord have moved to
the next chord.
• Almost always falls on the accented beat.
Suspension cont.
Three Parts of the Suspension
• Preparation- the tone preceding the
suspension will be the same pitch as the
suspension.
• Suspension- May or may not be tied to the
preparation. This is the actual NCT.
• Resolution- The tone following the suspension
and lying a 2nd below the suspension.
The preparation and the resolution are usually chord
tones though the preparation can be an NCT.
Suspension cont.
• Approached by same note.
• Left by step down.
Calculating a Suspension
• The suspension is calculated based on the
interval above the bass note in the chord over
which it occurs.
• The first part of the name is the generic
interval of the bass to the suspension and the
second part is the distance from the bass to
the resolution.
Most Common Suspensions
9-8, 7-6, 4-3
Calculating a Suspension
Ex: 11-8
Retardation (r)
• Most of the rules regarding retardations are
identical to suspensions.
• Main difference is that a retardation resolves
upward.
• Can occur anywhere in a passage of music but
are especially common at cadences.
• Retardations occurring at cadences often
involve the 7th scale degree resolving upward
to scale degree 1.
Retardation (r)
• Approached by same note.
• Left by step up.
Summary
• Passing tone (p)- Approached by step and left
by step in the same direction.
• Neighboring tone (n)- Approached by step and
left by step in the opposite direction.
• Suspension (s)- Approached by same tone and
left by a step down.
• Retardation (r)- Approached by the same tone
and left by a step up.
Musical Examples
Ex: 11-10
Bach, French Suite No. 2, Sarabande
Musical Examples
Ex: 11-12
Bach, “Danket dem Herrn”
NCT’s Part II
Appoggiatura (app)
• An NCT that is accented, and approached by
ascending leap and left by descending step.
• This NCT was more typical of music in the 19th
century than in the 18th century.
Appoggiatura (app)
• Approached by leap.
• Left by step in the opposite direction.
Escape Tone (e)
• The melodic contour of the escape tone is the
exact opposite of the appoggiatura.
• Escape tone is approached by step and left by
leap in the opposite direction.
• Escape tones are usually submetrical,
unaccented, and diatonic
Escape Tone (e)
• Approached by step.
• Left by leap
Neighbor Group (n.gr)
• A common method of embellishing a single
tone by using a combination of two NCTs in
succession.
• The first NCT is an escape tone.
• The second NCT is an appoggiatura.
Neighbor Group (n.gr)
• Combination of upper neighbor and lower
neighbors.
Anticipation (ant)
• Anticipates a chord that has not yet been
reached.
• The NCT move by either step or leap to a pitch
that is a chord tone in the anticipated chord.
• Most anticipations are approached by step.
Though approach by leap is not rare.
• The Anticipation cannot be a common tone
between the two chords.
Anticipation (ant)
• Approached by step or leap.
• Left by same note
Anticipation cont.
• The least common approach to the
anticipation is by leap and then being left by
leap.
• This is referred to as a free anticipation.
Pedal Point (ped)
• This is a compositional device that begins as a
chord tone then becomes an NCT as the
harmony below it changes. The NCT then
becomes a chord tone again.
Pedal Point cont.
• The name for this NCT comes from its
frequent use in organ music.
• The most frequently sustained pitch is either
the tonic or the dominant.
• Pedal points occasionally occur in parts other
then the bass. These are called inverted pedal
points.
Summary
Summary continued