Passing chord

{{Short description|Chord that connects the notes of two diatonic chords}}

{{Tone|date=February 2025}}

File:Passing chord in Bb.png (tritone, see also tritone substitution): B{{music|natural}}7 {{audio|Passing chord in Bb.mid|Play}}.Shanaphy and Knowlton (1990). The Do It Yourself Handbook for Keyboard Playing, p.68. {{ISBN|0-943748-00-3}}.]]

File:Pitch class space star.svg.McCartin, Brian J. (1998). "Prelude to Musical Geometry", p. 364. The College Mathematics Journal 29, no. 5 (November): 354–70. (abstract) (JSTOR).]]

In music, a passing chord is a chord that connects, or passes between, the notes of two diatonic chords.Wyatt and Schroeder (2002). Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory: A Comprehensive and Convenient Source for All Musicians, p.144. {{ISBN|0-634-04771-X}}. "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."Rawlins and Bahha (2005). Jazzology: The Encyclopedia of Jazz Theory for All Musicians, p.104. {{ISBN|0-634-08678-2}}. "'Inbetween chords' that help you get from one chord to another are called passing chords."Sokolow, Fred (2002). Jazzing It Up, p.9. {{ISBN|0-7935-9112-0}}.

For example, in the simple chord progression in the key of C Major, which goes from Imaj7/iii7/ii7/V7:

|Cmaj7 |Em7 |Dm7 |G7 |

the diatonic (this means "from the scale of the tonic") 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 |

or one or more secondary dominants may be inserted:

|Cmaj7 B7 |Em7 A7 |Dm7 |G7 | (in this example, the B7 is the secondary dominant of Em7 and the A7 is the secondary dominant of Dm7)

A chromatic passing chord is, "a chord that is not in the harmonized scale"Berle, Arnie (1995). Understanding Chord Progressions for Guitar: Compact Music Guides Series, p.34. {{ISBN|0-8256-1488-0}}. For example, one or more diminished seventh chords may be inserted:

|Cmaj7 D# dim7' |Em7 C# dim7 |Dm7 |G7 | (in this example, the D# dim7 is the viio7 of Em7 and the C# dim7 is the viio7 of Dm7)

Passing chords may be consonant or dissonantAlfred White, William (1911). Harmony and Ear-Training, p.158. Silver, Burdett & Company. and may include flat fifth substitution, scalewise substitution, dominant minor substitution, approach chords, and bass-line-directed substitution. Passing chords may be written into a lead sheet by a composer, songwriter, or arranger.

As well, particularly in smaller ensembles, such as the organ trio or jazz quartet, the comping (chord-playing) rhythm section instrumentalists (e.g., jazz guitar, jazz piano, Hammond organ) may improvise passing chords. With large ensembles, such as a big band, the comping players may have less freedom to improvise passing chords, because the composer/arranger may have already written in passing chords into the written horn parts, which might clash with improvised passing chords played by a comping musician. The freedom of comping musicians to improvise passing chords also depends on the tempo. In a very slow ballad, if a chord-playing musician adds in an improvised diminished chord for a half a bar, this may "clash" with the melody notes or chords played by other performers. On the other hand, in an extremely up-tempo (fast) bebop tune, a comping musician could add improvised passing chords with more freedom, because each bar goes by so fast.