1. Non Chord Tones - Nonharmonic Tones
VPAA Theory
Non Chord Tones - Nonharmonic Tones

2. Basic Terms To Know Step – Motion in one voice of a second.
Skip – Motion in one voice that moves in a 3rd
Leap – Motion in one voice that moves in a 4th or more

3. Nonharmonic Tones
Nonharmonic tones are pitches that sound along with a chord but are not chord pitches.
Pitches are dissonant
Occur in a pattern of three pitches:
1 Preceding tone (chord tone) - Approach
2 Nonharmonic tone (not a chord tone)
3 Following tone (chord tone) – Resolution/Departure

4. Nonharmonic Tones Passing Tone (PT) Neighboring Tone (NT)
Escape Tone (ET)
Anticipation (ANT)
Suspension (SUS)
Retardation (RE)
Appoggiatura (APP)
Changing Tone (CT)
Pedal Tone (PED)

5. Unaccented NHT
Unaccented nonharmonic tones are nonharmonic tones that occur off the beat or on the weak beat in a passage
Consist of passing tone, neighboring tone, escape tone, and anticipation

6. Unaccented NHT Passing Tone
Approach by a step, depart by a step in the same direction

7. Unaccented NHT Neighboring Tone
Approach by a step, depart by a step in the opposite direction

8. Unaccented NHT Escape Tone Only occur as unaccented nht
Approach by a step upward, depart by a skip down by a third

9. Unaccented NHT Anticipation Only occur as unaccented nht
Approach by step, depart by the same tone

10. Accented NHT
Accented nonharmonic tones are nonharmonic tones that occur on the beats
Consist of passing tone, neighboring tone, suspension, retardation, and appoggiatura

11. Accented NHT Passing Tone
Approach by a step, depart by a step in the same direction

12. Accented NHT Suspension
One note carries over into the next chord, resolves downward
Melodic pattern is always as follows: the preparation, the suspension, the resolution
The suspended tone (the middle tone) is always dissonant
Suspensions are designated numerically by the interval forming the suspended tone and resolution with the lowest sounding voice

13. Accented NHT
Suspension

14. Accented NHT Retardation
Similar to a suspension, except it resolves upward instead of downward

15. Accented NHT Appoggiatura
Approach by a skip, depart by a step in the opposite direction

16. NHT with three or more pitches
Successive passing tones
Changing tones
Pedal tone

17. NHT with three or more pitches
Succesive passing tones
Two passing tones occasionally fill in a fourth
Can be accented, unaccented, or a combination of both

18. NHT with three or more pitches
Changing tones
Consist of two successive nht’s.
Leads by a step from the chord tone, skips to another nht, and then leads by a step to a chord (often the same chord tone)

19. NHT with three or more pitches
Pedal tone
A held or repeated note
Usually in the lowest voice
Alternates between consonance and dissonance with the chord structures above it