passing note
- noun
- Specialized
:
nota de paso
- You can hear a subtle passing note in the violin part that leads elegantly to the next chord.
Examples
-
The melody features a passing note between the main chords, adding interest to the tune.
-
In classical music, a passing note often connects two harmonic tones by stepwise motion.
-
A passing note adds richness to the harmony.
-
Can you identify the passing notes in this piece?
-
In the melody, she added a passing note to create a smooth transition between two chords.
-
The composer skillfully used a passing note to connect the melody's main themes seamlessly.
-
During the performance, the pianist included a passing note that enriched the melodic line.
Synonyms
A note played between two main notes to make the tune move smoothly
Surface Forms
Morphology
The combination of 'passing' (brief, transient) and 'note' (musical tone) gives a clear general idea of a short or intervening musical note, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely infer it refers to a transient musical sound. However, the specific music-theoretical role (a non-harmonic tone used to connect two harmonic notes) is specialized and not fully predictable from the parts, so full understanding requires domain knowledge.
Etymology
Passing note The musical term passing note comes from the image of a small note 'passing' between two main notes, like a person walking from one house to the next. That's why it means 'a note that connects two main notes in a melody'.
