Embellishments, Motives, and Melodic Devices

To create leaps in the melody.

To disrupt the harmonic rhythm.

To create smooth, stepwise motion between chord tones.

To emphasize strong beats.

A passing tone resolves by leap, while a neighbor tone resolves by step.

A passing tone connects two chord tones, while a neighbor tone steps away from and returns to the same chord tone.

A passing tone always occurs on a strong beat, while a neighbor tone occurs on a weak beat.

A passing tone is always diatonic, while a neighbor tone is always chromatic.

Upper Diatonic Neighbor Tone

Lower Chromatic Neighbor Tone

Lower Diatonic Neighbor Tone

Upper Chromatic Neighbor Tone

They always occur on weak beats.

They create a smooth, consonant sound.

They occur on stronger beats, disrupting the harmonic rhythm to create tension.

They are always diatonic.

A non-chord tone that connects two chord tones by a skip.

A non-chord tone that moves a step away from a chord tone and then returns to it.

A chord tone that is held over from a previous chord.

A non-chord tone that resolves upward by a leap.

Lower Neighbor Tone

Chromatic Neighbor Tone

Upper Neighbor Tone

Diatonic Passing Tone

Resolution

Suspension

Preparation

Anticipation

A slow, stepwise descent.

A rapid alternation between two notes.

A sustained chord tone.

A gradual increase in volume.

F

D

F#

A

Notes that create dissonance and must be avoided.

Notes, ornaments, or figures added to a melody to enhance expression.

The underlying harmonic structure of a piece.

A series of chords that define the key of a piece.