5.4 Non-Chord Tones

Non-chord tones are the secret sauce of music. They're notes that don't belong to the current chord but add flavor and movement to melodies. Think of them as the spice that makes a dish pop, creating tension and release in your tunes.

These musical rebels come in different flavors like passing tones, neighbor tones, and suspensions. They're not just random notes thrown in, though. Each type has its own job, helping to smooth out melodies, create interest, and give your music that extra oomph.

Types of Non-Chord Tones

Melodic Function and Rhythmic Placement

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• Non-chord tones are pitches that do not belong to the prevailing harmony
• Classified based on their melodic function and rhythmic placement within a musical phrase
• Usually occur on weak beats or weak parts of the beat (passing tones, neighbor tones, anticipations, escape tones)
• Can also occur on strong beats (suspensions, appoggiaturas)

Specific Types of Non-Chord Tones

• Passing tones fill in the space between two chord tones by step (C-D-E)
• Neighbor tones move by step above or below a chord tone and return to the same chord tone
  • Upper neighbor tones are a step above the main note (C-D-C)
  • Lower neighbor tones are a step below (C-B-C)
• Suspensions are tied over from the previous chord, creating a dissonance that resolves down by step to a chord tone (G-F-E in C major)
• Retardations are similar to suspensions but resolve upward by step to a chord tone
• Anticipations occur immediately before a new harmony, anticipating a pitch belonging to the upcoming chord (G-A-A in C major to A minor)
• Pedal points sustain a pitch through changing harmonies, often in the bass voice, creating dissonances that eventually resolve to consonance
• Escape tones are approached by step and left by leap in the opposite direction (C-D-F)
• Appoggiaturas are approached by leap and resolved by step in the opposite direction (G-C-B in C major)

Functions of Non-Chord Tones

Melodic Enhancement

• Add variety, interest, and expressiveness to melodic lines
• Create tension and release by introducing and resolving dissonances
• Emphasize or de-emphasize certain notes within a phrase
• Smooth out melodic contours through stepwise motion

Structural and Expressive Functions

• Create a sense of forward motion, leading the listener's ear toward important structural points (cadences, climaxes)
• Contribute to the overall character, style, and emotional content of a musical work
  • Choice and frequency of non-chord tones can influence the piece's expressive qualities
• Create rhythmic interest and syncopation by emphasizing weak beats or weak parts of the beat
• Resolution of non-chord tones, particularly suspensions and appoggiaturas, enhances the expressive power of a musical passage

Continuity and Coherence

• Fill in gaps between chord tones, creating stepwise motion and a sense of continuity in melodic lines
• Help to create a sense of coherence by connecting disparate harmonic elements within a phrase or section

Applying Non-Chord Tones

Four-Part Writing

• Ensure non-chord tones are approached and resolved properly according to their specific type and function
• Maintain smooth voice leading and avoid undesirable parallel motion
• Use non-chord tones judiciously to enhance melodic interest without obscuring the underlying harmony or creating excessive dissonance

Melodic Composition

• Use non-chord tones strategically to create a sense of direction, tension, and release
• Maintain a balance between stepwise motion and leaps
• Consider the harmonic context and desired emotional effect when choosing types of non-chord tones
• Be mindful of the rhythmic placement of non-chord tones, ensuring they occur on appropriate beats or parts of the beat

Practical Application

• Practice using non-chord tones in various musical styles and genres
  • Baroque counterpoint, Classical sonatas, Romantic lieder, jazz standards
• Develop a sense of how non-chord tones can be employed effectively in different contexts
• Experiment with different combinations and placements of non-chord tones to achieve desired musical effects

Analyzing Non-Chord Tones in Music

Identification and Classification

• Identify the presence of non-chord tones in melodic lines of various voices or instruments
• Classify each non-chord tone according to its specific type based on melodic function and rhythmic placement within the phrase
  • Passing tone, neighbor tone, suspension, retardation, anticipation, pedal point, escape tone, appoggiatura

Melodic and Harmonic Analysis

• Examine how non-chord tones contribute to the overall melodic shape, contour, and interest of individual phrases or sections
• Analyze how non-chord tones interact with the underlying harmony, creating moments of tension, resolution, or ambiguity
  • Dissonance created by a suspension resolving to consonance
• Consider the emotional and expressive impact of non-chord tones within the context of the musical work

Comparative Analysis

• Compare the use of non-chord tones across different sections, movements, or variations within a musical work
• Compare the use of non-chord tones across different works by the same composer or from the same style period
• Gain insights into compositional techniques and artistic choices

Reflection and Application

• Reflect on how the analysis of non-chord tones in existing musical works can inform and inspire one's own compositional practice and musical understanding
• Apply insights gained from analysis to create more expressive, coherent, and stylistically appropriate musical passages