Harmony & Voice Leading III: Embellishments, Motives & Melodic Devices

Name: AP Music Theory Unit 6: Harmony & Voice Leading III: Embellishments, Motives & Melodic Devices
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2 lessons · 27 min

What this unit covers

The topics below follow the published Music Theory course framework for Unit 6. Music Theory publishes no per-unit weighting, so there is no percentage to chase here.

Non-chord tonesMotivesMelodic devicesAnalysis

Lessons in this unit

Non-Chord Tones14 min · 3 objectivesDefine non-chord tones and relate them to the prevailing harmony · Identify passing tones, neighbor tones, and suspensions by approach and resolution · Distinguish appoggiaturas, escape tones, anticipations, and pedal points
Motives & Melodic Devices13 min · 3 objectivesDefine a motive and explain how it generates melodic material · Identify sequence, imitation, and transposition · Recognize inversion, retrograde, augmentation, and diminution

Formulas in Unit 6

Classifying an NCT by its motion

PT: step–step (same dir) · NT: step–step (return) · SUS: hold–step down · APP: leap in–step out · ET: step in–leap out · ANT: early chord tone

Ask two questions: how is the tone approached, and how is it left? The pair of answers (and the direction) names every non-chord tone.

Motive transformations

inversion = reverse interval directions · retrograde = reverse note order · augmentation = ×duration · diminution = ÷duration

A sequence moves the motive to a new pitch level; imitation restates it in another voice. Inversion, retrograde, augmentation, and diminution alter pitch direction, order, or rhythm.

What examiners penalize here

When analyzing, first spell the underlying chord, then circle every melody note that is **not** in it. For each, mark the approach and departure. The classic 4–3 and 7–6 **suspensions** are frequent exam targets — look for a tie or repeated pitch that becomes dissonant and then falls a step.
In fugue and imitative-texture questions, the **subject often reappears in augmentation, inversion, or both**. When you spot a familiar contour that is slower, upside down, or backward, name the specific transformation — that precise vocabulary is what earns the analysis point.

Practice Music Theory

Our practice bank is drawn from across the whole course rather than filtered to one unit, which is closer to how the exam asks anyway — it will not tell you which unit a question is testing.

24 practice questionsEvery one with a written explanation FRQ trainerWritten answers scored against the rubric Music Theory study guideAll units, weights and score data in one place All 8 Music Theory unitsThe full course

Questions about this unit

How much of the AP Music Theory exam is Unit 6?

The Music Theory course framework does not publish a per-unit weighting, so there is no percentage to quote for Unit 6 and anyone who gives you one is guessing. Spread your time by where your own errors are instead.

What topics are covered in Music Theory Unit 6?

Harmony & Voice Leading III: Embellishments, Motives & Melodic Devices covers Non-chord tones, Motives, Melodic devices and Analysis.

How should I study Music Theory Unit 6?

Read the 2 lessons below first — about 25 minutes — then work practice questions on these topics. Finish with practice questions and read the explanation for every one you get right by elimination as well as the ones you miss.

All 8 units of AP Music Theory

Unit names, topics and exam weights follow the published College Board course framework for AP Music Theory. AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which does not endorse this site.