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Guidelines to approach notes for 3 or 4 horn writing

Basic Guidelines

• Chord tones are a quarter note or longer.
• Chord tones can be followed by a leap.
• Chord tones resolve down by step from a strong to weak pulse (as in a tension/release pattern).
• Chord tones may include a harmonic anticipation.
• Nearly any note can function as an approach note.
• Approach notes are less than a quarter note in duration.
• All approach notes will resolve to a target by step.
• Approach notes include: passing tones, upper or lower auxiliary tones and unprepared approach tones.
• Passing tones connect 2 notes of different pitch by stepwise motion.
• Auxiliary tones move away from and return to the same pitch by step.
• Unprepared approach notes are preceded by a leap, rest or the same pitch.
• Approach notes may be: diatonic, chromatic, double chromatic or indirect resolution patterns (from above or below a target).
• Only 2 approach notes may appear in a row (before a target is reached).
• Listen to the masters!