music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

, a passing chord is a chord that connects, or passes between, the

notes Note, notes, or NOTE may refer to: Music and entertainment * Musical note, a pitched sound (or a symbol for a sound) in music * ''Notes'' (album), a 1987 album by Paul Bley and Paul Motian * ''Notes'', a common (yet unofficial) shortened versio ...

of two diatonic chords. "Any chord that moves between one diatonic chord and another one nearby may be loosely termed a passing chord. A diatonic passing chord may be inserted into a pre-existing progression that moves by a major or

minor third In music theory, a minor third is a musical interval that encompasses three half steps, or semitones. Staff notation represents the minor third as encompassing three staff positions (see: interval number). The minor third is one of two com ...

in order to create more movement."Rawlins and Bahha (2005). ''Jazzology: The Encyclopedia of Jazz Theory for All Musicians'', p.104. . "'Inbetween chords' that help you get from one chord to another are called passing chords."Sokolow, Fred (2002). ''Jazzing It Up'', p.9. . For example, in the simple

chord progression In a musical composition, a chord progression or harmonic progression (informally chord changes, used as a plural) is a succession of chords. Chord progressions are the foundation of harmony in Western musical tradition from the common practice ...

in the key of C Major, which goes from I7/iii7/ii7/V7: , Cmaj7 , Em7 , Dm7 , G7 , the diatonic (this means "from the scale of the tonic") passing chord (Dm7) may be inserted: , Cmaj7 Dm7 , Em7 , Dm7 , G7 , or the chromatic passing chord (Ebm7) may be inserted: , Cmaj7 , Em7 Ebm7 , Dm7 , G7 , or one or more secondary dominants may be inserted: , Cmaj7 B7 , Em7 A7 , Dm7 , G7 , (in this example, the B7 is the secondary dominant of Em7 and the A7 is the secondary dominant of Dm7) A chromatic passing chord is, "a chord that is not in the harmonized scale" For example, one or more

diminished seventh chord The diminished seventh chord is a four-note chord (a seventh chord) composed of a root note, together with a minor third, a diminished fifth, and a diminished seventh above the root: (1, 3, 5, 7). For example, the diminished seve ...

s may be inserted: , Cmaj7 D# dim7' , Em7 C# dim7 , Dm7 , G7 , (in this example, the D# dim7 is the viio7 of Em7 and the C# dim7 is the viio7 of Dm7) Passing chords may be consonant or dissonantAlfred White, William (1911). ''Harmony and Ear-Training'', p.158. Silver, Burdett & Company. and may include flat fifth substitution, scalewise substitution, dominant minor substitution,

approach chord In music, an approach chord (also chromatic approach chord and dominant approach chord) is a chord one half-step higher or lower than the goal, especially in the context of turnarounds and cycle-of-fourths progressions, for example the two ...

s, and bass-line-directed substitution. Passing chords may be written into a

lead sheet A lead sheet or fake sheet is a form of musical notation that specifies the essential elements of a popular song: the melody, lyrics and harmony. The melody is written in modern Western music notation, the lyric is written as text below the st ...

by a composer, songwriter, or arranger. As well, particularly in smaller ensembles, such as the

organ trio An organ trio is a form of jazz ensemble consisting of three musicians; a Hammond organ player, a drummer, and either a jazz guitarist or a saxophone player. In some cases the saxophonist will join a trio which consists of an organist, guitarist, ...

jazz quartet In music, a quartet or quartette (, , , , ) is an ensemble of four singers or instrumental performers; or a musical composition for four voices and instruments. Classical String quartet In classical music, one of the most common combinations o ...

, the '' comping'' (chord-playing) rhythm section instrumentalists (e.g., jazz guitar,

jazz piano Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instru ...

, Hammond organ) may improvise passing chords. With large ensembles, such as a

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s ...

, the comping players may have less freedom to improvise passing chords, because the composer/arranger may have already written in passing chords into the written horn parts, which might clash with improvised passing chords played by a comping musician. The freedom of comping musicians to improvise passing chords also depends on the tempo. In a very slow ballad, if a chord-playing musician adds in an improvised diminished chord for a half a bar, this may "clash" with the melody notes or chords played by other performers. On the other hand, in an extremely up-tempo (fast)

bebop Bebop or bop is a style of jazz developed in the early-to-mid-1940s in the United States. The style features compositions characterized by a fast tempo, complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes and numerous changes of key, instrumen ...

tune, a comping musician could add improvised passing chords with more freedom, because each bar goes by so fast.

See also

References

Further reading