Non-chord tone
A non-chord tone is a note that does not belong to the chord sounding at that moment. It acts like a small dissonance and usually moves on to a chord tone after a short time. Well-known kinds are the passing note, neighbour note, suspension, anticipation and after-note.
- Feature
- does not belong to the chord
- Resolution
- usually by step into a chord tone
- Kinds
- passing note, neighbour note, suspension, anticipation, after-note
- Effect
- heavier on a strong beat, lighter on a weak one
Notes that do not belong to the chord
Only its own notes belong to a chord: in the C major chord these are C, E and G. All other notes sounding above it in the melody are non-chord tones. They act like small dissonances and usually move on to a chord tone after a short time. That way they enliven a melody and join the chord tones to one another.
Passing note: fills the space between two chord tones
Over C major (C–E–G) the melody goes E–D–C. In the marked chord the D does not belong to the chord, it joins E and C by step.
Neighbour note: there and back
The melody goes from E to the neighbour note F and returns to E. In the marked chord the F is a non-chord tone.
Suspension: the chord tone is delayed
The F lies in the F major chord (prepared). At the change to C major, on beat one of the second bar, the melody stays on F. Now it is a non-chord tone in the marked chord and resolves downwards into E after two beats. The suspension falls on the strong beat, which is why it sounds weighty.
Anticipation: the next chord tone comes too early
Over the G major chord the C of the following tonic already sounds. In the marked chord the C is a non-chord tone for G major, a chord tone for the next chord.
In the glossary: Passing note · Suspension · Triad
Position in the bar decides
The effect depends on the position in the bar. On a strong beat non-chord tones sound weightier than on a weak one. A passing note on the weak beat runs by almost unnoticed, a suspension on the strong beat creates tension that resolves.
And the rest?
A note that fits the key can also be a non-chord tone, as long as it is not part of the current chord. The D in the passing note belongs to the C major scale but not to the C major chord. Non-chord tones differ from modulation, where the harmonic reference point changes, in that the harmony stays and only a single note is foreign.
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Related terms
Passing noteSuspensionTriadDissonanceModulationCadenceSeventh chord
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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