Non-Chord Tones Explorer
Most melodies don’t stick to the notes of the chord underneath. Passing tones, neighbor tones, suspensions, and their relatives add motion, tension, and color. See and hear each one, then test your ear.
The Three Questions
A chord tone belongs to the chord being played. A non-chord tone doesn’t. Every type of non-chord tone is named by answering three questions:
1. How does it arrive?
By step (the next note up or down the scale), by leap (skipping notes), or by holding a note over from the chord before.
2. How does it leave?
By step or leap, and in the same direction it came from or the opposite direction.
3. Is it on a strong beat?
Accented non-chord tones land on the beat and create more tension. Unaccented ones fall between beats and sound smoother.
Explore Each Type
Cheat Sheet
Tap a row to jump to that example.
| Type | Arrives by | Leaves by |
|---|
Name That Tone
Each example marks its non-chord tones with “?”. Listen, look at how they arrive and leave, then choose the type.
Practice Ideas
Hear the skeleton
Play an example, then play it without the non-chord tones. The second version is the chord-tone “skeleton.” The non-chord tones are what make it a melody.
Hunt in a real song
Pick a song you know with simple chords. Sing the melody over each chord and find the notes that aren’t in it. Which type is each one?
Decorate a melody
Play a simple melody using only chord tones. Then add passing tones between notes a third apart, and a neighbor tone on any repeated note.
Want to Hear Theory in the Music You Play?
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