neirocca sound-first music theory

Non-Chord Tones and Embellishment

What is tested

You must label embellishing tones in a given passage. Suspension and appoggiatura are the pair most often confused, because both resolve down by step — the difference is whether the note was prepared in the previous chord.

Common mistakes

Suspension and appoggiatura are both identified from how they resolve, which cannot separate them — both fall by step. The difference is what happens before: a suspension is held over from the previous chord, an appoggiatura is approached by leap.

Practice with

The tool below checks your answer against the theory engine, so you get the same verdict a marker would.

Open the tool: Nonchord Tone Lab →

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Related reading

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