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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.