Passing Tones
Passing Tones are notes that connect chord tones. They can be scalar or chromatic, and they can ascend or descend. The choice of passing tones can vary according to which parent scale you use. For instance, a Major Scale would suggest the 4th scale note as the passing tone between the 3rd and 5th chord tones, where a Lydian Scale would suggest the #4th scale note as the passsing tone between the 3rd and 5th chord tones.
In the simplest usage, a single passing tone moves between two chord tones spaced a major or minor 3rd interval apart. The passing tone creates temporary tension as it “passes” from one chord tone to the other; the tension is resolved on the second chord tone. Think of the concept as a sandwich - the chord tones are the bread on the top and bottom, and the passing tone is the filling in between. A scale is simply a linear succession of chord tones and passing tones.
Passing tones can be used in more complex ways. For example, they can occur between whole steps and 4ths, and they can occur as multiple passing tones sandwiched between chord tones. We are not using passing tones in this way in this book.
In the simplest usage, a single passing tone moves between two chord tones spaced a major or minor 3rd interval apart. The passing tone creates temporary tension as it “passes” from one chord tone to the other; the tension is resolved on the second chord tone. Think of the concept as a sandwich - the chord tones are the bread on the top and bottom, and the passing tone is the filling in between. A scale is simply a linear succession of chord tones and passing tones.
Passing tones can be used in more complex ways. For example, they can occur between whole steps and 4ths, and they can occur as multiple passing tones sandwiched between chord tones. We are not using passing tones in this way in this book.