  
1
Nonharmonic
tones (continued)
In Lesson 9 you learned about
two types of nonharmonic tones (or nonchord tones)--passing tones
and neighboring tones. Following is a review of those plus an introduction
to several other nonharmonic tones that are commonly used.
passing
tone
Passing tones occur stepwise between two
different chord tones. In the examples below, the passing tones
are circled. In each case, they "pass" from one tone
of an F major triad to another tone of that triad. All the passing
tones in the following example are unaccented passing tones,
since they occur on the weak part of the beat.

Accented
passing tones occur on the strong part of the beat, as in the
following examples.

neighboring
tone
Neighboring tones occur stepwise above
or below a repeated chord tone. A neighboring tone may be unaccented
or accented. Following are examples of unaccented neighboring
tones.

Here are examples of neighboring tones
ocurring on the strong part of the beat ("accented neigboring
tones").

suspension
The suspension is a chord tone of one chord
which continues to sound (is suspended) through the change of
harmony, then resolves stepwise downward to a chord tone of the
second chord. Think of a suspension as having three parts: the
preparation (usually on a rhythmically weak beat), the suspension
(on a strong beat) and the resolution (following on a weak beat).

anticipation
The anticipation is an unaccented nonharmonic
tone which belongs to the second of two chords but is sounded
before the second chord is heard. As its name implies, it anticipates
the chord to which it belongs. Thus the anticipation is the opposite
of the suspension. An anticipation is ususally approached by step.

appoggiatura
The appoggiatura is an accented nonharmonic
tone which is approached by a skip and resolved stepwise, usually
in the opposite direction. Some theorists refer to any accented
nonharmonic tone as an appoggiatura, such as the accented passing
tone or the suspension which is not tied or held over. We will
use the more specific interpretation, however. It is one of the
most effective nonharmonic tones because it is dramatic.

  
|