◀
Stable
— Stability Axis →
Unstable
▶
Chord Tone
▼
▼
Non-Chord Tone
Sweet
Grounded
Resolved
Warm
Safe
Settled
The note belongs to the chord and sits near the tonal center. Maximum harmonic comfort — listeners feel at home.
SO
MI
DO
as chord tones
Tense
Supported
Forward
Yearning
Active
Leaning
Harmonically supported by the chord, but an inherently unstable scale degree — it wants to move somewhere.
FA
RE
TI
as chord tones
Floating
Modern
Open
Color
Spacious
Interesting
Doesn't belong to the chord, but stable in the key — so it floats rather than clashes. Great for jazz color and added extensions.
DO
SO
MI
outside the chord
Bitter
Edgy
Dark
Raw
Urgent
Dissonant
The note clashes with the chord and it's an unstable scale degree. Maximum tension — powerful in small doses, exhausting if overused.
TI
FA
outside the chord
Stability Axis (Vertical)
How settled is this note in the key? Stable notes (DO, SO, MI) feel like home. Unstable notes (FA, TI, RE) feel like they need to move. This is about the note's place in the key — not the chord.
Chord Relationship (Horizontal)
Is the note part of the chord currently playing? A chord tone has harmonic backing — it "fits." A non-chord tone floats above or collides with the chord — it adds color or tension depending on stability.
Need resolution?
Land on Zone 1 — stable chord tones carry the feeling home.
Need drive / urgency?
Lean into Zone 2 — tense chord tones pull forward without falling apart.
Need dark intensity?
Use Zone 4 — but land back in Zone 1 or it collapses.