6.1 Non-Chord Tones I

What they are

Non-chord tones (NCTs) are notes that don't belong to the current chord, adding melodic interest. They're defined by how they're approached and left.

Passing & neighbor tones

A passing tone fills the gap between two chord tones by step (up or down). A neighbor tone steps away from a chord tone and returns to it (upper or lower neighbor).

Approach and resolution

Both passing and neighbor tones are approached and left by step. Identifying NCTs means analyzing the surrounding chord and how the note connects to it.

Key terms

Non-chord tone (NCT)

a note foreign to the current chord

Passing tone

steps between two chord tones

Neighbor tone

steps away and returns to a chord tone

Approach/resolution

both are approached and left by step

Purpose

add melodic interest and smoothness

Try an AP-style question

A passing tone…

1. arrives before its chord
2. connects two chord tones by step
3. leaps away and returns
4. is held over from a prior chord