In traditional voice leading, which term describes a tone that is approached by step and left by step in the same direction?

• A. Passing tone
• B. Neighbor tone
• C. Escape tone
• D. Pedal point

Answer: (A)

The tone described is a passing tone. In voice leading, a passing tone is a non-chord tone that fills the step between two chord tones by moving stepwise in the same direction on both sides. For example, if two chord tones are C and E, inserting D between them creates C–D–E in the same melodic direction, with D approached from C by a step and left to E by a step.

This differs from a neighbor tone, which is approached by step and left by step in the opposite direction (step away and then return). An escape tone is approached by step and left by a leap in the opposite direction. A pedal point is a sustained pitch held while the other voices move, not a fleeting tone in between two chord tones.