Harmonic Techniques to Create Passing & Approach Chords

Professor Richard DeRosa

1. Parallel (constant structure or 'planing') chords;
usually used in chromatic relationship above or below the target chord.

& c

C ma13

?c

j
# #
# # # n
J
(Bma13)

j
b

b
b
J

(Dbma13)

..
...

(Bma13)

# #
# # # n

2. Diatonic neighbor chords

C ma7

&
?

(Dmi7) (Emi7)

(Fma7) (Emi7)

(Dmi7)

3. Neighboring diminished chord - leading tone resolution.

C ma7

&
?

..
..

(Bdim7)

(Bdim7)

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4. Embellishing diminished chord - common tone resolution.

C ma7

&
?

j (Cdim7)
#
#

...
.

(Cdim7)

#
#

Harmonic techniques to created passing and approach chords

5. Passing diminished chord - leading tone resolution

C ma7

&
?

# n #
# n #
J

(C#dim7)

D mi7 (C#dim7)

# #
n

(D#dim7)

E mi7

A 7-9

#
b
J

6. Dominant approach - any chord, regardless of Roman numeral function, can be "tonicized" and approached by its V.
Emi7 (III in C major) can be "tonicized" with an approach from B7.

C ma7

&
?

11

F ma7

(B7+5+9)

E mi7(11)

A 7-5-9

#b
b

7. Dominant substitutions related in minor 3rds. The symmetry of the diminished (octatonic) scale contains
two tritone-dominant substitutions and ultimately four dominant chords located a minor 3rd apart.

G7

&
13
?

b7
b b n #

b
D

b7

b b n #

b
b

E7

G7 as a primary dominant can be substituted with Bb7, C#7, and E7.

& ....
15
.
?
D mi7

G7

b7

b
b

#7

E7

n
n b
#

C ma13

n n
J

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Harmonic techniques to created passing and approach chords

8. Dominant substitutions related in major 3rds. The symmetry of the whole tone scale features an augmented triad
as its primary chord. Each note of the augmented triad can act as a root of a dominant chord.
There are ultimately three dominant chords located a major 3rd apart.
3
3
3
3
3
3

&
G+

& #

18

G 7+

#
b
b
b
E 7+
E +
b

B+

B 7+

G7 as a primary dominant can be substituted with B7 and Eb7.

& ....
21
.
?
D mi7

b 13

G7

E7

B7

n
#

C ma13

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9. Delayed resolution - a dominant chord can be delayed by placing its II chord (or Vsus) ahead of it.
G7 can be delayed by using Dmi7 or Dmi7-5 ahead of it.

j
&
24
? J
E mi7

j
b

# b

b b
J
A 7-5-9

D mi7

D mi9-5/G G 7-9 C ma13

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