NCVPS AP Music TheoryPresentation by Dr. Tom Moncrief

Types of Non-Chord Tones

What is a Non-Chord Tone?A non-chord tone is a tone or pitch that is sounded

at the same time as the chord, but is not analyzed as a member of the chord. Non-chord tones are the embellishments to the music that serve to “connect” or make the voice part more melodic (or able to be sung).

A non-chord tone (abbreviated NCT) is a pitch that is either diatonic or chromatic. A diatonic NCT is one that is inside the tonality and a chromatic NCT is a pitch that is outside of the given tonal center.

The pitch might be a NCT for the whole duration of the harmony, or only a part of the harmonic duration.

Non-Chord TonesIn Chapter Eleven of your Tonal Harmony textbook,

four non-chord tone classifications are discussed (passing tone, neighboring tone, suspension and retardation).

Passing Tones and Neighboring Tones are closely classified as both are approached and left by step.

Suspensions and Retardations are are closely classified as both are approached by the same tone.

Identifying and memorizing these classifications are necessary. You may wish to make notecards that would help you to remember these classifications.

Classifications of Non-Chord TonesNCT Name and Abbreviation

Approached by Left by

Passing Tone (p) Step Step in the same direction

Neighboring Tone (n)

Step Step in the opposite direction

Suspension (s) Same Tone Step Down

Retardation (r) Same Tone Step Up

Appoggiatura (app) Leap Step

Escape Tone (e) Step Leap in the opposite direction

Neighbor Group (n.gr)

Escape Tone Appoggiatura

Anticipation (ant) Step or Leap Same Tone (or leap)

Passing ToneA Passing Tone “connects” two other tones.

These two tones might be analyzed in the same chord (“harmony”) or in different chords.

Image Courtesy of Thomas Moncrief

Passing ToneThe Passing Tone is Approached by “step”

and Left by “step in the same direction. In this example, the Subdominant (IV) chord has the following pitches (Ab, C, and Eb). The “Bb” sounded by the Bass Voice on beat 2, is a non-chord tone (a passing tone). This would be an unaccented, diatonic, ascending passing tone.

Passing ToneLet’s talk about these terms (“unaccented,

diatonic, ascending passing tone”.Unaccented—This is on an unaccented beat

of the measure (beat 2) and the duration of the chord is a half-note and the NCT is not on the accented part of the duration.

Diatonic—The “Bb” is part of the tonality of Eb Major, thus diatonic.

Ascending– The pitch pattern (Ab, Bb, C) is an ascending pattern.

Neighboring TonesA neighboring Tone is an embellishment

that moves to a pitch class directly above or directly below the chord tone. The NCT occurs inside beat two in the Tenor voice.

Image Courtesy of Thomas Moncrief

Neighboring ToneThe Neighboring Tone is Approached by

“step” and Left by “step in the opposite direction.” In this example, the Dominant (V) chord has the following pitches (D, F#, A). The “E” sounded by the TenorVoice on the “and” of beat 2, is a non-chord tone (a neighboring tone). This would be an unaccented, diatonic, ascending neighboring tone.

SuspensionA suspension holds on to or “suspends” a

chord tone, while the other parts have moved onto the next chord. There are three parts of a suspension (the preparation, suspension and resolution). See p. 172 for more details about these parts of the suspension.

Image Courtesy of Thomas Moncrief

SuspensionIn this example, the chord on beat 3 is an E

chord or the Dominant (E, G#, B). However, the Tenor Voice “holds” or “suspends” a pitch from the previous chord (the “A”). The “A” is a 4th above the Bass (“E”), and the resolution is down to the 3rd above the Bass. We commonly will call this a 4-3 suspension.

RetardationA retardation holds on to or “suspends” a

chord tone, while the other parts have moved onto the next chord. A retardation has all of the components of a suspension, however the resolution does not “fall” but rather “rises.”

Image Courtesy of Thomas Moncrief

RetardationIn this example, the chord on beat 3 is an A

chord or the Subdominant (A, C#, E). However, the Alto Voice “holds” or “suspends” a pitch from the previous chord (the “G#”). The resolution of the “G#” is in an ascending pattern to the “A”. This NCT is a retardation.