Passing notes and suspensions

Bach's inner parts and bass are full of quaver movement. Add it last, once the harmony is secure, and check it again afterwards.

Non-chord notes

• Passing notes fill in a 3rd by step, usually on a weak half of the beat.
• Auxiliary notes step away from a chord note and straight back.
• Anticipations sound a note of the next chord early, usually at a cadence.

Suspensions

A suspension has three stages:

1. Preparation: the note sounds as a consonance in the chord before, in the same part.
2. Suspension: the note is held (or repeated) on the strong beat, where it is now a dissonance.
3. Resolution: the note falls by step.

The 4-3 over V at a cadence is the most common. Rules:

• An unprepared "suspension" is an appoggiatura. In chorale style, flag it.
• The note of resolution should not sound in another part at the same time (the only exception is the bass in a 9-8).

Recheck the decoration

A passing note can hide consecutives. If the notes either side of a passing note make 5ths or octaves with another part, most examiners still count them. The Chorale Checker tests across every passing note you mark.