Which chromatic passing tone to use?

Question

I'm wondering if there's certain chromatic passing tones that are used more than others. Especially in classical or pop improvisation/composition. For example in the key of C, each of the five black keys on a piano could potentially be chromatic passing tones. But are there ones that are used more than others, and do you usually land on a chord tone from a higher or lower chromatic note?

Answer 1

Without going to a keyboard or picking up my sax or guitar, I would imagine, there are passing tones that are used more frequently than others. I would imagine ones closest in the given scale, or chord that are closest to the desired, or arrived at tone, maybe 3-5 chromatic tones away. I would say you usually land on a chord tone from a higher chromatic tone. On my solo work, I mostly use passing tones on the way up to a desired landing tone, or the root of the chord, or whatever is appropriate at that point in the solo, passage, or piece. Example: If my ending tone is concert C, I may use passing tones and notes in the scale or key, starting below C on G, or G# and move up to the C. I may use a full octave in rare times during solos. Usually this would be a fast chromatic scale from low C to middle or even high C. Maybe just half a scale. I'd say, more often, the passing tones are just usually a few notes below the desired ending tone, going upward to land on the tone, many times it may be a resolve note of the chord, or root note. Passing tones are usually, within my solo work, used sparingly and move relatively quickly, not held onto for long.