Should a passing note follow:
1) the scale of song key
2) the scale of the current chord
3) they don't need to follow any scale
Example:
Song key is C. Current chord is F. The melody needs a passing note between A and C. The note could be
1) B
2) Bb
3) Either B or Bb.
I've heard people claim all 3 as the right answer.
Passing Notes
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- KVRAF
- 7837 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
A passing note is not a modulation point.
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). Where there are two non-chord notes before the resolution we have double passing tones or double passing notes.
[url-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonchord_tone#Passing_tone]Link[/url]
As they are non chord tones they can exist within the key or not. They also don't have to cause the chord to change. The chord can remain the same and have a passing tone in the chord/phrase.
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). Where there are two non-chord notes before the resolution we have double passing tones or double passing notes.
[url-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonchord_tone#Passing_tone]Link[/url]
As they are non chord tones they can exist within the key or not. They also don't have to cause the chord to change. The chord can remain the same and have a passing tone in the chord/phrase.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRian
- 579 posts since 8 Oct, 2005
any note can be used but for traditional song writing the most widely often used will be:
1) the scale of song key
For example, in "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear", if in key of C, the word "glorious" is sung on F chord with notes A-B-C:
"It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old..."
"glor..ri..ous"
..A....B....C
If you play a Bb instead of B on "ri" it will sound like a wrong note (in this song). But key of C is etablished in first phrase. I'm sure there are examples in songs that a Bb is used but the song has likely temporarily modulated to key of F.
1) the scale of song key
For example, in "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear", if in key of C, the word "glorious" is sung on F chord with notes A-B-C:
"It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old..."
"glor..ri..ous"
..A....B....C
If you play a Bb instead of B on "ri" it will sound like a wrong note (in this song). But key of C is etablished in first phrase. I'm sure there are examples in songs that a Bb is used but the song has likely temporarily modulated to key of F.