passing note

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Definition

Noun: 1. A nonharmonic note: A single musical note, often very brief, that is not part of the prevailing chord or harmony. It is used to create a smooth melodic transition between two chord tones (harmonic notes).

Usage

A passing note is a specific compositional technique in music theory. It is a dissonant note that connects two consonant notes (notes belonging to the chord) by stepwise motion (moving up or down the scale). Its primary function is melodic decoration and creating a sense of motion between stable points in the melody.

Examples
  • The composer used a passing note to smoothly connect the third and fifth of the chord, avoiding a melodic leap.
  • In his analysis, the teacher pointed out the passing note in the violin part that resolved downward to the tonic.
  • The melody's fluidity comes from its clever use of passing notes between the main harmonic pitches.
Advanced Usage
  • Accented vs. Unaccented: A passing note can be either accented (falling on a strong beat) or, more commonly, unaccented (falling on a weak beat).
  • Chromatic Passing Note: When the passing note is not in the key signature but fills the space between two notes a whole step apart, it is called a chromatic passing note (e.g., moving from C to D by using C#).
Variants and Related Words
  • Passing Tone: This is a complete synonym for passing note. The terms are used interchangeably in music theory.
  • Neighbor Note: A related but distinct ornament where a note moves stepwise away from a harmonic note and then returns to it, rather than continuing on.
  • Appoggiatura: A type of nonharmonic note that is approached by leap and resolved by step, often carrying more expressive weight than a passing note.
Synonyms
  • Passing tone
  • Embellishing tone
  • Nonharmonic tone
Related Concepts (Not Phrasal Verbs)
  • Resolution: The movement of a dissonant passing note to a consonant harmonic note.
  • Stepwise Motion: Movement to an adjacent scale degree, which is characteristic of how a passing note functions.
Noun
  1. a nonharmonic note inserted for transition between harmonic notes

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