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over I-V-IPlayⓘ.
Inmusic, particularlySchenkerian analysis, alinear progression (Auskomponierungszug orZug, abbreviated:Zg.) is apassing note elaboration involvingstepwisemelodic motion in one direction between twoharmonic tones.[2] "The compositional unfolding of a specific interval, one of the intervals of thechord of nature."[3] For example:-- over thetonic.[4] According toSchenker: "A linear progression always presupposes apassing note; there can be no linear progression without a passing note, no passing note without a linear progression."[5] In GermanZug may be combined with prefixes to create related words such asUntergreifzug, a linear progression rising from a lower voice,Uebergreifzug ("reaching over"), a linear progression overlapping another, orTerzzug, linear progression through athird.[6] The termZug may best be translated as "a direct, unimpeded motion from one place to another."[7]
Linear progressionsprolong harmonies through elaboration, or filling-in with dissonant notes, of a leap between two consonant notes from differentvoices in a chord.[8] In English they may be abbreviated "prg." such as 3-prg. for 'third progression' (rather than "Zg.").[8]
Note that in the Mozart example above the passing tones are dissonant and unable to be embellished; however, in the Urlinie example to the right the passing tone is supported harmonically, allowing for embellishment.[1] Also note the Schenkerian notation indicating relative hierarchical depth, surface or structural importance, where structural notes are indicated through stems and beams and surface notes are indicated through note heads only which are then slurred to stemmed and beamed notes. Thus in the bottom right example the third progression from D is a decoration of the deeper third progression from E.[1]