Passing chordFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search

Passing chord in B from across the circle of fifths (tritone, see also tritone substitution): B7 Play(helpinfo).[1]

The circle of fifths drawn within the chromatic circle as a star dodecagon.[2]In music, a passing chord is a nondiatonic chord that connects, or passes between, the notes of two diatonic chords.[3] "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 order to create more movement."[4] "'Inbetween chords' that help you get from one chord to another are called passing chords."[5]For example in the chord progression:[4]|Cmaj7 |Em7 |Dm7 |G7 |the diatonic 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 |A chromatic passing chord is, "a chord that is not in the harmonized scale".[6]Passing chords may be consonant or dissonant[7] and may include flat fifth substitution, scalewise substitution, dominant minor substitution, approach chords, and bass-line-directed substitution.[5]