Unit 6 · 4 lessons
Non-Chord Tones and Melody
Passing and neighbour tones, suspensions, anticipations, escape tones, appoggiaturas, pedal points, and melodic writing.
Goal of this unit
Name the exact type of every non-chord tone in a melody.
Prerequisites
Lessons
- 1
Passing Tones and Neighbor Tones
about 15 minReal melodies almost never consist entirely of chord tones. Notes that fall outside the chord come in recognized types, and the two most basic are the passing tone and the neighbor tone.
Tools used in this lesson: Nonchord Tone Lab / Melody Note Guide
- 2
Suspensions and Anticipations
about 16 minThere are two ways to let one note straddle two chords - hold it over from before, or sound it early. Suspensions and anticipations displace time in exactly opposite directions.
Tools used in this lesson: Nonchord Tone Lab
- 3
Escape Tones, Appoggiaturas, and Pedal Points
about 15 minNon-chord tones involving a leap create tension abruptly. The appoggiatura leaps in, the escape tone leaps out, and the pedal point does not move at all while the harmony changes around it. These are the remaining three types.
Tools used in this lesson: Nonchord Tone Lab
- 4
Writing Melodies
about 15 minWith all seven non-chord tones available, the perspective switches from analysis to writing. The skeleton that singable melodies share, how to handle leaps, and where to put the high point - each demonstrated by ear.
Tools used in this lesson: Melody Note Guide / Step Sequencer