4-Part Jazz Harmony > Replacements > Half-Step Explanation
Half-Step Explanation
The reason replacement notes can be one half step below the note they are replacing, even though they are outside the scale for the chord being harmonized, is due to the acoustic habituation to the sound of the Leading Tone resolving its dissonance by rising to the Tonic. Half-step-below notes will, in most cases, increase dissonance, and the ear will expect to hear this dissonance resolve by raising the dissonant note.
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