Comprehensive Guide to Advanced Harmony and Melodic Devices

Non-Chord Tones (NCTs)

Notes that do not belong to the chord sounding at that moment, used as embellishing tones.

Preparation

The note that precedes a Non-Chord Tone.

Resolution

The note that follows a Non-Chord Tone.

Passing Tone (PT)

An NCT approached by step and resolved by step in the same direction, usually unaccented.

Neighbor Tone (NT)

An NCT that moves away from a chord tone and returns to it, usually unaccented.

Suspension (SUS)

An NCT where the same tone is held over into a new chord, creating dissonance that resolves down.

Retardation (RET)

An NCT similar to a suspension, resolving upward by step.

Appoggiatura (APP)

An NCT approached by leap and resolved by step usually in the opposite direction, typically accented.

Escape Tone (ET)

An NCT approached by step and resolved by leap, usually unaccented.

Anticipation (ANT)

A note played before the chord to which it belongs arrives, momentarily creating dissonance.

Pedal Point (PED)

A sustained or repeated note that sounds against changing harmonies.

Motive

A short musical idea that serves as a building block for a composition.

Repetition

Repeating a motive exactly at the same pitch level.

Transposition

Repeating a motive at a different pitch level.

Inversion

Flipping the melodic contour upside down.

Retrograde

Playing a motive backwards, from last note to first note.

Augmentation

Stretching the rhythmic values, usually doubling the length.

Diminution

Shrinking the rhythmic values, usually halving the length.

Melodic Sequence

The immediate restatement of a melodic pattern at a different pitch level.

Harmonic Sequence

The immediate restatement of a harmonic pattern at a different pitch level.

Circle of Fifths

A descending pattern in harmony typically rooted by a Perfect 5th or Perfect 4th.

Pachelbel Sequence

A sequence that involves root motion down a 4th and up a 2nd.

Suspension phases

The three stages of a suspension: Preparation, Suspension, and Resolution.

4-3 Suspension

A suspension where the 4th resolves to the 3rd.

9-8 Suspension

A suspension where the 9th resolves to the octave.

7-6 Suspension

A suspension where the 7th resolves to the 6th.

2-3 Suspension

A bass suspension where the bass note forms a 2nd before resolving down.

Common Tone

A tone that remains the same between chords.

Stepwise Motion

Melodic movement usually involving moving by steps.

Leaping Motion

Melodic movement that involves leaps between notes.

Resolving Downward

The act of resolving an NCT to a chord tone by moving down.

Resolving Upward

The act of resolving an NCT to a chord tone by moving up.

Accented Tone

A tone that typically falls on a strong beat and is emphasized.

Unaccented Tone

A tone that typically falls on a weak beat and is not emphasized.

Dissonance

A combination of tones that sounds unstable or tense.

Consonance

A combination of tones that sounds stable or harmonious.

Chromatic Passing Tone

A passing tone that fills the space of a major second with half-step motion.

Double Neighbor (Neighbor Group)

A complex figure moving away from a chord tone and returning through two neighbors.

5-6 Technique

A method to avoid parallel fifths or octaves by alternating inversions in sequences.

Cadence

A musical punctuation typically indicating the end of a phrase.

Motivic Development

The process of manipulating a motive to achieve variety while maintaining unity.

Metric Position

The specific location of a tone within the measure or beat.

Harmonic Change

A transition from one chord to another, allowing NCTs to create tension and resolution.

Metrically Strong Position

The location in a measure where a note typically receives emphasis.

Metrically Weak Position

The location in a measure where a note may go unnoticed or lack emphasis.

Voice Leading

The manner in which individual musical lines (voices) move from chord to chord.