Which nonharmonic tone is defined as a tone that leaves early from the preparation chord by step to become part of the resolution chord?

• A. Anticipation Tone
• B. Appoggiatura
• C. Suspension
• D. Passing Tone

Answer: (A)

Nonharmonic tones are notes that momentarily step outside the current harmony to add color, then return to the expected chord. This item describes a tone that starts in the preparation chord but moves by step to join the notes of the resolution chord earlier than the change in harmony. That sense of “arriving early on the next chord” is what identifies it as an anticipation.

An anticipation occurs when a pitch belongs to the upcoming harmony and is heard before the actual change, so it sounds like part of the resolution chord even though the surrounding harmony hasn’t changed yet. It’s often approached by step from a note in the previous chord and then becomes part of the new chord once the harmony changes.

By contrast, a passing tone connects two chord tones by step within the same harmony; a suspension uses a tone carried over from the previous chord and resolves downward by step; and an appoggiatura is typically approached by a leap and resolved by step, often accented. The defining feature here is that the tone belongs to the upcoming, resolution chord and enters early, which is why it’s described as an anticipation.