▪ Extra notes are used to create rhythmically persuasive patterns.
▪ The extra note creates an even pattern, which allows you to end on “strong” beats of a bar (= 1,2,3,4) with a chord-tone.
▪ In dominant scales, the notes on the 1,3,5,7 are chord-tones (= on the dominant chord), and notes 2,4,6 are called non-chord tones.
▪ The extra note rules below are mainly used for descending melody lines. They can be ascending, but sound better descending.
▪ Extra-notes for major and dominant scales can be any note of the scale. They just need to be placed in the right position (e.g., between 1 & 7).
▪ Dominant scale extra-note rule 1: when descending from scale degrees 1, 3, 5, and 7 add an extra-note between 1 (tonic) and 7. [= an ODD number of extra-notes].
▪ Dominant scale extra-note rule 2: If descending from 3, 5, 7, you can also add extra-notes between 3 & 2 and 2 & 1. [add an ODD number of extra-notes].
▪ Dominant scale extra-note rule 3: When starting on non-chord tones, refrain from adding extra-notes OR, add extra notes between 2 & 1 and between 1 & 7. [add an EVEN number of extra-notes].
▪ Major scale extra-note rule 1: when starting on chord-tones (1,3,5,6), add an extra note between 6 & 5. [add an ODD number of extra-notes].
▪ Major scale extra-note rule 2: when starting on chord-tones 3,5,6, add an extra-note between 6 & 5, 3 & 2 and 2 & 1. [just be sure you add an ODD number of extra-notes].
▪ Major scale extra-note rule 3: when starting on non-chord tones (2,4), add 0 extra notes or extra-notes between 2 & 1 and 5 & 6. [add an EVEN number of extra-notes].
Connor Jones shows how: