Non-Harmonic Tones
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1music theory for musicians and normal people by toby w. rush
Non-Harmonic Tones
a non-harmonic tone is a note that
doesn’t fit into a chord. we classify
non-harmonic tones by how they are
approached and resolved!
resolves by continuing in
passing
pt
step
step
the same direction as the
tone
approach.
resolves by returning to
neighboring
Nt
step
step
the note preceding the
tone
non-harmonic tone.
resolves in opposite
appoggiatura
app
leap
step
direction from approach.
resolves in opposite
Escape tone
et
step
leap
direction from approach.
two non-harmonic tones
changing
ct
any
step
on either side of the
tones
note of resolution.
a chord tone played
common
anticipation
ant
any
before the rest of
tone
the chord arrives.
a note held over from
common
suspension
sus
step
a previous chord and
tone
resolved down.
a note held over from
common
retardation
ret
step
a previous chord and
tone
resolved up.
a chord tone which
common
common
pedal tone
ped
temporarily becomes
tone
tone
a non-harmonic tone.
suspensions are typically further identified
by number. The first number represents the
interval between the note of suspension and
the bass. The second number represents the
interval between the note of resolution and
the bass.
the exception to this rule is the 2-3 or
7-6
2-3
bass suspension, where the numbers
sus
(bass)
represent the intervals between the bass
sus
(where the suspension occurs) and
whichever voice has the note which is a
second (not counting octaves) above
4-3
9-8
the bass.
sus
sus
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