Lesson 17 Introduction to simple non-harmonic tones

Lesson 17 Introduction to simple non harmonic tones

Part I Non-Harmonic tones
Non-Harmonic tones are any note that is not part of the chord.  i.e. In a C Major chord, the chord tones are C E G, this the non-harmonic tones are D, F, A, and B.

Fig.1 Non-harmonic tones for a C Major chord.

While they will not all be discussed in this lesson, all of the types of non-harmonic tones are:

Name                    Abbreviation

Passing tone               PT

Neighbor tone            NT

Changing tone           CT

Appogggiatura          App

Escape tone               ET

Pedal Tone                Ped

Suspension                Sus or susp

Retardation                Ret

Anticipation              Ant  

In this lesson, we will discuss, Passing tones, neighbor tones, and changing tones.

Part II Passing tones
∫A passing tong occurs when a voice has stepwise movement between two chord tones.  This is demonstrated here in figure 1.

Fig.2 passing tones

Here, when analyzing a piece, one is to circle and label and non-harmonic tones.  As such.  The following example only has passing tones present for simplicity's sake.

Fig.3 passing tones in context.

Listen:

Part III- Neighbor tones
Neighbor tones are when one voice moves stepwise to a non-harmonic tone either up or down.  The voice then returns to the same tone.  This creates either an upper neighbor tone (UNT), or Lower neighbor tone (LNT).

Fig.4 Neighbor tones

Fig.5 neighbor tones in context

Listen:

Part IV- Changing tones
Changing tones are the most complex non-harmonic tones to be discussed in this lesson.  They require two notes to execute.  As demonstrated, they start by a step up or down followed by a leap of a third in the opposite direction. Finally a return to the original pitch.  Figure 6 is demonstration of this figure.

Fig.6 Changing tones

Fig.7 Changing tones in context.

Listen:

The other non-harmonic tones will be discussed in the following lessons.