Mr. Jackson AP Music Theory. Non-chord tones (or non-harmonic tones) are notes that “don’t...
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Unit 10 – Non Chord Tones (NCTs) Mr. Jackson AP Music Theory
Mr. Jackson AP Music Theory. Non-chord tones (or non-harmonic tones) are notes that “don’t belong” in a particular chord, creating a temporary “dissonance”
Non-chord tones (or non-harmonic tones) are notes that dont
belong in a particular chord, creating a temporary dissonance
against the correct members of the chord. NCTs may occur in any
voice, but are most common in the melody. Composers use NCTs as:
Ornaments Embellishments Tension devices Connect Chord tones
together in a more pleasant melodic line NCTs are analyzed in THREE
parts. PREPARATION DISSONANT TONE (NCT) RESOLUTION Note: the
PREPARATION and the RESOLUTION are chord tones, meaning they belong
in the chord! The PREPARATION describes how the NCT is APPROACHED.
The RESOLUTION describes how the NCT is LEFT! The labeling of NCTs
is one of those areas which many music theorists agree to disagree,
but you need to understand the meaning of the NCTs and not just
their label.
Slide 3
Passing tone (PT) Neighboring tone (NT) Suspension (SUS)
Retardation (RET) Appoggiatura (APP) Escape Tone (ET) Neighbor
Group/Changing Tones (CT) Anticipation (ANT) Pedal Point (PED)
Slide 4
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. Accented Passing Tone occurs when the passing tone that
is not part of the chord occurs on the beat. Chromatic Passing Tone
a non- diatonic note (requiring an accidental) connecting two chord
tones together.
Slide 5
Approached by step. Left by step in the same direction.
Slide 6
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.
Slide 7
Approached by step. Left by step in the opposite
direction.
Slide 8
An incomplete neighbor, or cambiata, is a NCT approached by
skip/leap in one direction and is resolved by stepwise motion in
the opposite direction ON A WEAK RHYTHMIC POSITION! A Neighbor
Group is sometimes called a changing tone, which we will cover
later.
Slide 9
A common method of embellishing a single tone by using a
combination of two NCTs in succession, one above and one below the
chord tone.
Slide 10
Combination of upper neighbor and lower neighbors.
Slide 11
An NCT that is accented, and approached by ascending leap and
left by descending step and occurs ON THE BEAT! This NCT was more
typical of music in the 19 th century than in the 18 th century.
This NCT may or may not be Mr. Jacksons favorite and you might get
extra credit for spelling it.. Learn to spell it
Slide 12
Approached by leap. Left by step in the opposite
direction.
Slide 13
Slide 14
Slide 15
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 sub
metrical, unaccented, and diatonic.
Slide 16
Approached by step. Left by leap
Slide 17
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. Named for the interval numbers above the bass of the
dissonant tone and the resolution. The common suspensions are: 9-8
Suspension 7-6 Suspension 4-3 Suspension
Slide 18
Preparation- the tone proceeding 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 2 nd below the suspension. The
preparation and the resolution are usually chord tones though the
preparation can be an NCT.
Slide 19
Approached by same note. Left by step down. This example would
be a 7-6 suspension. Suspensions are often connected to their
preparation by a tie. When the suspended note is not tied to its
preparation, it is called a rearticulated suspension.
Slide 20
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
Slide 21
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 7
th scale degree resolving upward to scale degree 1.
Slide 22
Approached by same note. Left by step up.
Slide 23
Anticipates a chord that has not yet been reached. The NCT
moves by either step or leap to a pitch that is a chord tone in the
next 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.
Slide 24
Approached by step or leap. Left by same note
Slide 25
The least common approach to the anticipation is by leap and
then being left by leap. This is referred to as a free
anticipation.
Slide 26
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.
Slide 27
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.
Slide 28
Slide 29
Ex: Bach, French Suite No. 2, Sarabande
Slide 30
Ex: Bach, Danket dem Herrn
Slide 31
1.Passing tone fills in the gaps between chord tones a third
apart. 2.Lower neighbor is one step below two of the same chord
tones. 3.Accented upper neighbor occurs on the beat. 4.Passing tone
fills in the gaps between chord tones a third apart. 5.Escape tone
is unaccented approached by step and moves away in the opposite
direction by leap. 6.Appoggiatura is on the beat (accented) and is
approached by leap and resolves in the opposite direction by step.
7.Upper neighbor is one step above two of the same chord tones.
8.Incomplete neighbor occurs on a weak beat and leaves by skip and
resolves by step in the opposite direction. 9.Suspension (in this
case 4-3) is held over from the preparation chord and resolves by
step in the opposite direction.