Unit 6: Nonchord Tones I

Question 1

nonchord tone (NCT)

Answer 1

a tone, either diatonic or chromatic, that is not a member of the chord; tone might be this throughout its duration, or, if harmony changes before tone does, the tone might be this for only a portion of its duration; to find, have to analyze chord first

Question 2

Passing tone

Answer 2

approached and left by step in same direction (up or down); used to fill up space btwn two other notes- these 2 other notes may belong either to same or different chords or may be NCTs themselves; unaccented, diatonic, ascending/descending; occasionally used to fill up space btwn notes only a M2 apart, but usually fill space btwn notes 3rd apart

Question 3

diatonic passing tone

Answer 3

NCT that fills interval btwn two chord tones a 3rd apart and occurs in weak rhythmic position

Question 4

chromatic passing tone

Answer 4

NCT that fills the interval between 2 chord tones a M2 apart and occurs on a weak beat/rhythmic position

Question 5

neighboring tones

Answer 5

NCTs used to embellish a single tone which is heard both before and after the neighbor; approached by step and left by step in opposite direction; may appear above or below a tone, and may be diatonic or chromatic; decorates a repeated tone

Question 6

chromatic neighbor

Answer 6

lends more tonal color to a passage and tends to draw more attention to the pitch that it is embellishing; a chromatic lower neighbor acts as a leading tone to the tone it ornaments

Question 7

suspension

Answer 7

holds on to (suspends) a chord tone after other parts have moved on to the next chord; primary source of dissonance on the accented beat in much tonal and pretonal music; almost always fall on accented beats or accented portions of the beat; may or may not be tied to its preparation; repetition is NCT; approached by same tone and left by step DOWN; labeled with numbers such as 7-6, 9-8, 4-3, 2-3

Question 8

preparation

Answer 8

the tone preceding the suspension and is the same pitch as the suspension

Question 9

resolution

Answer 9

the tone following the suspension and lying a 2nd below it

Question 10

accented NCT

Answer 10

when NCT occurs with a chord instead of the pitch by itself; only labeled with passing tones and neighboring tones

Question 11

unaccented NCT

Answer 11

when NCT occurs in middle of two chords by itself; only labeled with passing tones and neighbor tones

Question 12

retardation

Answer 12

approached by same tone and left by step UP; labels include 7-8, 4-5, 2-3, but not required to include;

Question 13

bass suspension labels

Answer 13

identify the most dissonant interval with the bass and its resolution; should remain constant even if compound intervals are involved; measure distance btwn teh bass and the suspended note to get interval to show type of number of suspension