Illinois Music Content Area Practice Test 2026 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

The term that refers to a non-chord tone approached by the same pitch and resolved by stepping up is known as a retardation. In music theory, a retardation is a type of non-chord tone that is sustained from the previous chord and then resolves upward to the chord tone. This characteristic resolution is what distinguishes a retardation from other non-chord tones.

Suspensions, for example, are approached by the same pitch but resolve downward, while anticipations usually resolve upward but are prepared in a different manner. Appoggiaturas involve a leap into the non-chord tone and typically resolve downward. Each of these non-chord tones serves different functions in harmonic movement and creates distinct musical effects, but in the case of a non-chord tone approached by remaining on the same pitch and resolved by stepping up, retardation is the accurate term.