{"id":43800,"date":"2023-10-25T13:40:54","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T11:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edwinm29.sg-host.com\/?p=43800"},"modified":"2025-07-07T08:47:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T06:47:43","slug":"what-are-passing-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/what-are-passing-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn passing notes in music for all levels"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #103133;color:#103133\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #103133;color:#103133\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/what-are-passing-notes\/#What_are_passing_notes\" >What are passing notes?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/what-are-passing-notes\/#The_history_of_passing_notes\" >The history of passing notes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/what-are-passing-notes\/#How_do_posing_tones_work\" >How do posing tones work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/what-are-passing-notes\/#How_to_practice_passing_notes\" >How to practice passing notes?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_passing_notes\"><\/span><b>What are passing notes?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are passing notes? A passing note, or \u201cnon-chord tone\u201d is a musical note that is not part of the main chord but is used to bridge or connect two chord tones. Think of it as a bridge that guides the listener from one chord tone to another, adding depth and flavor to the melody.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagine you\u2019re walking on a path and come across a small stream. Instead of jumping directly to the other side, you use a stepping stone in the middle to ensure a smooth transition. In music, passing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">notes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> serve a similar purpose, ensuring seamless voice leading and smooth flowing harmony.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"componentContainer\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"column\"><div class=\"h2Notable\">Start your musical journey<\/div><ul><li><span><strong>Fall in love with the music -<\/strong> Learn your favorite songs, at a level suitable for you.<\/span><\/li><li><span><strong>Enjoy interactive piano lessons -<\/strong> Explore courses covering music theory, technique chords & more.<\/span><\/li><li><span><strong>Get real-time feedback -<\/strong> Skoove's feedback tells you what went well and what needs practice.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"column\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/optimized\/iPhone15-1A-3-800.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"846\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/div><\/div><small><\/small><a class=\"skooveButton skooveButtonWithin\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Book a trial lesson\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/auth\/register_promotion?coupon=7d-blog-npd&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=btf&utm_campaign=7d-blog-npd&t=Start%20a%207%20day%20free%20trial&st=No%20credit%20card%20required!\" rel=\"noopener\">Book a trial lesson<\/a><small>No credit card details required<\/small><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_history_of_passing_notes\"><\/span><b>The history of passing notes<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The concept of passing notes has been around for centuries, tracing its roots back to the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Composers of these eras, such as Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel, frequently employed passing notes to embellish their melodies. For those exploring <a href=\"\/blog\/how-to-remember-piano-notes\/\">piano notes for beginners<\/a>, these added tones introduce expressive possibilities beyond the basic chord tones.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_posing_tones_work\"><\/span><b>How do posing tones work?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A significant focus is on the role of passing notes in enhancing melodic richness. The video contrasts a melody composed solely of chord notes with one that incorporates passing notes. This comparison demonstrates how passing notes can prevent a melody from sounding repetitive and inject a variety into <a href=\"\/blog\/composing-piano-music\/\">a <\/a><\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/composing-piano-music\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">piano composition<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container\"><iframe title=\"Passing Notes (Non-Harmonic Tones) - Music Theory\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/75S51R7s2R8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The presentation continues with a definition of passing notes as melodic elements that, while not part of the <a class=\"cursor-pointer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"633\" data-end=\"720\">frequencies produced by the chord<\/a>,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0being played, bridge the gap between chordal notes. The example using a <a href=\"\/blog\/major-and-minor-chords\/\">C <\/a><\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/major-and-minor-chords\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">major chord<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, uses the passing note example, D, a non-chord tone. The D is used as a passing note between C and E. This illustration effectively shows how passing notes can add depth and complexity to a melody.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we see, <a href=\"\/blog\/grand-staff-notes\/\">the <\/a><\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/grand-staff-notes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">grand staff<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> passing notes are categorized into two distinct types: unaccented and accented. Unaccented passing notes appear <\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/eighth-and-sixteenth-notes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">between beats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, subtly embellishing the melody. In contrast, accented passing notes, occurring on the beat, provide a more pronounced emphasis, crucial for composers aiming to convey specific emotional nuances or rhythmic emphasis in their music.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The functions of passing notes in music\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passing notes play a pivotal role in adding nuance and sophistication to a piece of music. They can:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enhance melodic movement &#8211; <\/b>b<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">y bridging the gap between two chord tones, passing notes create a smoother melodic line, making the tune more pleasing to the ears.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Introduce tension and release &#8211; <\/b>t<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">he rhythmic use of a non-chord tone e.g <a href=\"\/blog\/what-are-quarter-half-and-whole-notes\/#What_is_a_quarter_note\">a <\/a><\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/what-are-quarter-half-and-whole-notes\/#What_is_a_quarter_note\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quarter note<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, can introduce a momentary tension, which is then resolved when the melody moves to a chord tone. This can create an emotional ebb and flow in the music.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b style=\"font-style: inherit;\">Add rhythmic variety &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> incorporating passing notes can break the monotony of a rhythm, introducing unexpected beats that can make a piece more engaging.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_practice_passing_notes\"><\/span><strong>How to practice passing notes?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To practice passing notes it is vital that you pay attention to how they work so you will play them with the proper technique, nuance and emphasis. Skoove can guide your learning, whether you need help with <\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/sight-reading-ties-explained\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ties<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/dotted-notes-in-music\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dotted notes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/articulation-in-music\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">articulation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Our library of interactive songs and lessons will incorporate passing notes into your playing with ease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 46.15% 0 0 0; position: relative;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" title=\"Minuet - Johann Sebastian Bach\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1082074007?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><script src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/api\/player.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<span class='maxbutton-1-container mb-container'><a class=\"maxbutton-1 maxbutton maxbutton-christmas\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Start free trial\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/en\/auth\/register_promotion?coupon=7d-blog-npd\"><span class='mb-text'>Start free trial<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now you have learned what passing notes are, where they come from and how to use them. You are one step further on your musical journey. With help and guidance from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/en\">Skoove<\/a> you will master them in no time. Happy practicing!<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container\"><iframe title=\"Skoove\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/479012867?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"231\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class='maxbutton-1-container mb-container'><a class=\"maxbutton-1 maxbutton maxbutton-christmas\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Start free trial\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/en\/auth\/register_promotion?coupon=7d-blog-npd\"><span class='mb-text'>Start free trial<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Author of this blog post:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-6965 aligncenter\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Author-Box-Edward-1.png\" alt=\"Edward Bond\" width=\"212\" height=\"217\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Eddie Bond is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, and music instructor currently based in Seattle, Washington USA. He has performed extensively in the US, Canada, Argentina, and China, released over 40 albums, and has over a decade experience working with music students of all ages and ability levels.<\/p>\n<div class=\"editorSection\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Edited and fact-checked by Matthew Dickman, composer, arranger, educator and multi-instrumentalist whose works have been performed by orchestras around the world.<br \/>\nPublished by Lydia Ogn from the Skoove team<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are passing notes? What are passing notes? A passing note, or \u201cnon-chord tone\u201d is a musical note that is not part of the main chord but is used to bridge or connect two chord tones. Think of it as a bridge that guides the listener from one chord tone to another, adding depth and &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"\/blog\/what-are-passing-notes\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Learn passing notes in music for all levels<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":43812,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"Learn passing notes in music for all levels","_seopress_titles_desc":"Find out what a passing note is in music, how to spot it and why it\u2019s used. This guide covers passing notes, examples, and their theory.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[243],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music-theory"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}