Which term describes a tone that leaves early from the preparation chord by step to become part of the resolution chord?

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

Answer: (D)

Anticipation occurs when a tone that belongs to the next harmony sounds early, before the chord change, and becomes part of the upcoming resolution chord. In this idea, a voice from the preparation chord moves by step and arrives on a note that is actually a member of the next chord, so the harmony shifts with the sound already heard. This creates the sense that the new harmony is arriving ahead of its usual moment.

For example, in a progression from a tonic area toward the dominant, you might hear a note that belongs to the dominant chord sounded while the current harmony is still in place. The voice moves by step into that tone, and when the harmony changes, the note is already part of the new chord color. This is distinct from an appoggiatura, which is approached by a leap and resolves by step to a chord tone on a strong beat; a suspension, which is carried over from the previous chord and resolves downward; and a passing tone, which connects two chord tones within the same harmony by step and does not belong to the upcoming chord.