What is "passing tone"

Passing \Pass"ing\, a.

1. Relating to the act of passing or going; going by, beyond, through, or away; departing.

2. Exceeding; surpassing, eminent.
   --Chaucer. ``Her passing deformity.''
   --Shak.

   Passing note (Mus.), a character including a passing tone.

   Passing tone (Mus.), a tone introduced between two other tones, on an unaccented portion of a measure, for the sake of smoother melody, but forming no essential part of the harmony.

n. (context music English) a non-harmonic tone that is a second lower than a note in one chord and a second higher than a note in the other chord

n. a nonharmonic note inserted for transition between harmonic notes [syn: passing note]