Passing tones

1. What is a passing tones in music theory?
2. How do you write a passing tone?
3. What are chromatic passing tones?
4. What are diatonic passing tones?

What is a passing tones in music theory?

A passing tone (PT) or passing note is a nonchord tone prepared by a chord tone a step above or below it and resolved by continuing in the same direction stepwise to the next chord tone (which is either part of the same chord or of the next chord in the harmonic progression).

How do you write a passing tone?

A passing tone (PT) is approached by step and then continues by step in the same direction. A passing note is approached by step and then continues by step in the same direction. If a passing tone occurs with the second chord (instead of in the middle of the two chords), it is called an accented passing tone (>PT).

What are chromatic passing tones?

Chromatic Passing Tone. A chromatic passing tone fills the interval between two chord tones a major second apart and occurs in a weak rhythmic position. Cross Relation occurs when a chromatically altered note in one voice is next to the same diatonic scale degree in a different voice.

What are diatonic passing tones?

The previously mentioned PT's are all referred to as a DIATONIC PASSING TONES because they belong to the key of D major. However, the CHROMATIC PASSING TONE involves notes that are foreign to the key. Below, we see a G# in the 2nd beat of the highest voice moving from the A (in beat 1) to the G (in beat 3).