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Inmusic, apassing chord is achord that connects, or passes between, thenotes of two diatonic chords.[3] "Any chord that moves between onediatonic chord and another one nearby may be loosely termed a passing chord. Adiatonic passing chord may be inserted into a pre-existing progression that moves by amajor orminor third in order to create more movement."[4] "'Inbetween chords' that help you get from one chord to another are called passing chords."[5]
For example, in the simplechord progression in the key of C Major, which goes from Imaj7/iii7/ii7/V7:[4]
|Cmaj7 |Em7 |Dm7 |G7 |
the diatonic (this means "from the scale of the tonic") passing chord (Dm7) may be inserted:
|Cmaj7Dm7 |Em7 |Dm7 |G7 |
or the chromatic passing chord (Ebm7) may be inserted:
|Cmaj7 |Em7Ebm7 |Dm7 |G7 |
or one or moresecondary dominants may be inserted:
|Cmaj7B7 |Em7A7|Dm7 |G7 | (in this example, the B7 is the secondary dominant of Em7 and the A7 is the secondary dominant of Dm7)
Achromatic passing chord is, "a chord that is not in theharmonized scale"[6] For example, one or morediminished seventh chords may be inserted:
|Cmaj7D# dim7' |Em7C# 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 beconsonant or dissonant[7] and may includeflat fifthsubstitution,scalewise substitution,dominantminor substitution,approach chords, andbass-line-directed substitution.[5] Passing chords may be written into alead sheet by a composer, songwriter, or arranger.
As well, particularly in smaller ensembles, such as theorgan trio orjazz quartet, thecomping (chord-playing)rhythm section instrumentalists (e.g.,jazz guitar,jazz piano,Hammond organ) may improvise passing chords. With large ensembles, such as abig 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.
