Auxiliary Notes (Non-Harmonic Tones) - Music Theory
TLDRThe video introduces the concept of auxiliary notes in music composition and performance. It explains that auxiliary notes are extra notes added between two repeated notes to create melodic movement and avoid static repetition. Auxiliary notes don't belong to the underlying chord and pass quickly through the main notes. The video describes lower and upper auxiliary notes, which fill in the space below or above repeated notes, as well as accented and unaccented variants. It suggests composers use auxiliary notes to embellish melodies and players use them to understand chord progressions. Overall, auxiliary notes add expression and interest to music.
Takeaways
- 😀 Auxiliary notes add movement between repeated notes to make melodies less static
- 🎹 Auxiliary notes are notes that don't belong to the underlying chord
- ⬇️ Lower auxiliary notes dip down below a repeated note
- ⬆️ Upper auxiliary notes go above a repeated note
- ⤴️ You can combine upper and lower auxiliary notes for more embellishment
- ♾️ Unaccented auxiliary notes tuck between beats for smoothness
- 🥁 Accented auxiliary notes land on beats for emphasis
- 🎼 Auxiliary notes help composers embellish melodies
- 🎻 Auxiliary notes help musicians understand how notes fit chords
- 🎵 Auxiliary notes open up creative possibilities with repeated notes
Q & A
What are auxiliary notes?
-Auxiliary notes are extra notes added in between two existing notes, usually to add movement and interest to a melodic line.
What is an example of a lower auxiliary note?
-An example is inserting the note B between two C notes, so the melody goes C, B, C. The B is a half step below C.
What is an upper auxiliary note?
-An upper auxiliary note is inserted a half step above the main note, such as going from C to D and back to C.
How can you tell if an auxiliary note fits with the accompanying chord?
-If the auxiliary note clashes with the chord, it typically doesn't fit. For example, a B note would not fit well with a C major chord.
What is the difference between an accented and unaccented auxiliary note?
-An unaccented auxiliary note falls between beats, while an accented one lands directly on a beat, making it sound more emphasized.
When would composers use auxiliary notes?
-Composers use auxiliary notes to embellish melodies, add movement between repeated notes, and to smooth out static melodic lines.
What instruments could play auxiliary notes?
-Any melodic instrument like voice, woodwinds, brass, strings, piano, etc. could use auxiliary notes in the melody line.
Can you have both upper and lower auxiliary notes in sequence?
-Yes, you can have any combination of upper and lower auxiliary notes in a row, such as lower followed by upper or vice versa.
Do auxiliary notes usually last for a full beat?
-No, auxiliary notes are usually quite short in duration - just quickly touching on the extra note before resolving to the main one.
Can auxiliary notes be used in both composition and performance?
-Yes, composers can write auxiliary notes into melodies and performers can also add them in to embellish or smooth out passages.
Outlines
😃 Introducing Auxiliary Notes
The paragraph introduces the concept of auxiliary notes in music. It explains that auxiliary notes are extra notes added between two existing notes, such as between two repeated notes, to add melodic interest and movement. Auxiliary notes don't belong to the underlying chord. Examples are provided of lower auxiliary notes, which dip below the main notes, and upper auxiliary notes, which go above. Accented vs unaccented auxiliary notes are also explained.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡auxiliary note
💡embellish
💡melodic line
💡harmony
💡dissonance
💡accented
💡composer
💡musician
💡chord
💡beat
Highlights
Auxiliary notes add movement between repeated notes to avoid sounding static.
A lower auxiliary note is one step below the main note, while an upper auxiliary is one step above.
Auxiliary notes don't belong to the underlying chord and create a bit of dissonant clash.
Unaccented auxiliary notes tuck in between beats, while accented ones land on the beat.
You can combine upper and lower auxiliary notes for more melodic variation.
Auxiliary notes are useful for composers embellishing melodies.
Musicians playing written music can see how auxiliary notes fit with the chord changes.
Repeating the same note twice can sound static harmonically.
The note a half step above or below fits best as an auxiliary note.
Auxiliary notes create tension against the underlying harmony.
Put auxiliary notes off beats to deemphasize and on beats to accentuate.
Vary auxiliary notes to make melodies more fluid and interesting.
Songwriters can use auxiliary notes to embellish and vary melodic lines.
Performers can see how auxiliary notes work with chord changes in pieces.
Holding the same note over changing harmonies can sound harmonically static.
Transcripts
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