In music, changing tones (also called double neighboring tones and neighbor group) consists of two consecutive non-chord tones.[1][2] The first moves in one direction by a step from a chord tone, then skips by a third in the opposite direction to another non-chord tone, and then finally resolves back to the original chord tone. Changing tones appear to resemble two consecutive neighbor tones; an upper neighbor and a lower neighbor with the chord tone missing from the middle. The changing tone functions as a way to decorate, or embellish, a chord tone and are also used to provide rhythmic interest between common tones. In rare instances, changing tones can be heard as musical cryptograms, such as the cruciform melody.
- ^ Lobe, Johann Christian (1891). Catechism of Composition: By J. C. Lobe. G. Schirmer. pp. 63–65.
- ^ Franceschina, John Charles (2015). Music Theory Through Musical Theatre: Putting it Together. Oxford University Press. pp. 126–127. ISBN 978-0-19-999955-2.