Meeting #13

Grade 7 JCoM
Nonharmonic Tones
Nonharmonic tones or melodic decorations (II)

Nonharmonic Tones Last class, we already learned about passing tone, neighboring tone,
escape tone, and anticipation. Today, we will learn about other
common nonharmonic tones that add even more excitement! �

We already learned about accented passing tones and accented

neighboring tones. Now, we will learn the other common accented
nonharmonic tones: suspension, retardation, and appoggiatura.

Accented Suspension (SUS)

Nonharmonic Tones
The suspension occurs only as an accented nonharmonic tone. The
melodic pattern of the suspension figure is always as follows: the
preparation, the suspension, and the resolution.

In this example, the suspension occurs in the top

voice. In the preparation stage, the top note
belongs to the harmony on that beat. In the
suspension stage, the harmony changes, but the
top note is still held or suspended. In the resolution
stage, the suspended note finally resolves down a
step.

The suspended tone (in the middle) is always dissonant. The

suspension is labeled in terms of the intervals formed between the
suspended tone and the bass, and the resolution tone and the bass.

The most common ones are 7-6, 4-3, and 9-8 suspensions.
 In this example, we have
standard chord
progressions. Notice the
soprano voice that falls
down a step.

This example is like above

but with suspensions
added. Notice the
suspension occurs on the
strong beat and the
resolution is on the
following beat.

Another common suspension is the 2-3 suspension shown below.

Even though most suspensions involve a suspended note in the upper

voices, in the 2-3 suspension, the suspended tone is in the lowest
voice (or bass).

Suspensions occur only between two voices. You may ignore the
other voices when considering the preparation, suspension, and
resolution. The following are suspensions found in a four-voice setting.
 Retardation (RET)

A retardation is a nonharmonic tone similar to a suspension, except

that the resolution is upward instead of downward. It is commonly
used in the soprano voice.

Appoggiatura (APP)

The appoggiatura is a nonharmonic tone that is approached by skip

and resolved by step in the opposite direction. It is commonly used in
the soprano voice. It can either be accented (most common) or
unaccented (least common).

The following excerpt includes a SUS, an APP, and a RET.

Haydn: Sonata in A major, Hob. XVI:30, II: Var. 1, mm. 14-16.

Nonharmonic Tones Successive Passing Tone (PT)
Involving More Than
You can have more than one passing tone in a row to connect notes
Three Pitches
that are separated by a larger interval.

Changing Tone (CT)

Changing tones are also called double neighbor tones or a neighbor

group. In example B, you have an upper neighbor that is followed
immediately by a lower neighbor (or the other way around).

Pedal Tone (PED)

A pedal tone is a held or repeated note, usually in the lowest voice,

that alternated between consonance and dissonance with the upper
voices.

Observe the successive passing tones, changing tones, and pedal

tone in the concluding measures of an organ piece by Walther.
Summary of The following table summarizes the movement for each nonharmonic
Nonharmonic Tones tone that we have learned so far. When writing your SATBs, you may
now add nonharmonic tones for a richer harmonic effect. :)

In-Class Exercises and Homework

Exercise: Following are nonharmonic tones excerpted from music literature.
1. Circle the nonharmonic tone or tones.
2. Write the name of the type of nonharmonic tone in the blank provided.
Exercise: The following is an example from music literature.
1. Analyze each chord with Roman numerals, also indicating its position. Some chords are
provided to help you understand the procedure.
2. Circle and indicate the type of each nonharmonic tone next to the circle.
3. Indicate the type of cadence used at each phrase ending.
Exercise: Locate and label each nonharmonic tone (NHT) in the following example. Identify each
NHT by its specific type using the appropriate abbreviation.