Embellishments, Motives, and Melodic Devices

Passing Tone

Neighbor Tone

Anticipation Tone

Suspension

Accented

Unaccented

Downbeat

Strong Beat

The supertonic note in the melody might appear slightly before the V chord arrives.

The tonic note in the melody might appear slightly before the V chord arrives.

The tonic note in the melody might appear slightly before the I chord arrives.

The dominant note in the bass might appear slightly before the I chord arrives.

A non-chord tone approached by leap and resolved by step.

A non-chord tone that moves stepwise from a chord tone and then leaps to the next chord tone.

A sustained note, usually in the bass, that is held while the harmony changes above it.

A chord tone that arrives early, just before the actual chord change.

The direction of the leap.

The direction of the step.

The rhythmic placement.

The harmonic context.

By a step in the same direction as the approach.

By a leap in the same direction as the step.

By a leap in the opposite direction of the step.

By a step in the opposite direction as the leap.

A non-chord tone approached by step and resolved by leap.

A non-chord tone approached by leap and resolved by step.

A sustained note in the bass.

A chord tone that arrives early.

The direction of the leap.

The duration or rhythmic value.

The harmonic function.

The melodic contour.

It always creates consonance.

It has no effect on the harmony.

It adds dissonance and tension, creating a sense of movement and resolution.

It stabilizes the harmony.

A type of chord progression.

A sustained note, usually in the bass, that is held while the harmony changes above it.

A melodic embellishment.

A rhythmic pattern.