Level 1 · Course 38

Non-Chord Tones

Passing tone, neighbor tone, appoggiatura, suspension, escape tone, anticipation and pedal point — the melodic ornamentation of harmony.

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Pause Culture · Non-chord tones

Théodore Dubois (1837–1924)

Théodore Dubois, director of the Paris Conservatoire and author of a Treatise on Harmony that trained generations of musicians, classified non-chord tones with a watchmaker's preci…

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À retenir : A non-chord tone is never a mistake: the chord decides, and the ear is the judge.

What is a non-chord tone?

A non-chord tone is a note that does not belong to the chord heard at that precise moment. It ornaments the melodic line, creating motion and expression without altering the actual harmony.

The principle: at every instant, some notes are chord tones (they make up the chord), others are non-chord tones (they ornament it). Telling one from the other is the key to all harmonic analysis.

Non-chord tones are classified by three criteria: the beat on which they fall (strong or weak), the way one approaches them (by step or by leap) and the way one leaves them (resolution). These three criteria are enough to name every non-chord tone.

Remember: most non-chord tones are unprepared and fall on a weak beat. Two major exceptions: the appoggiatura (strong beat) and the suspension (strong beat AND prepared).