What best describes a neighbor tone?

• A. Moves in a stepwise motion but returns to the original tone
• B. Approached by leap and resolved by step
• C. Sounds on the downbeat, then moves downward by a step
• D. Resolves by remaining on the same pitch

Answer: (A)

A neighbor tone decorates a chord tone by stepping away by a second and then returning by step to the original pitch. It’s a nonharmonic note used to add motion between chord tones, and it’s approached and left by step. That’s why the description “moves in a stepwise motion but returns to the original tone” fits best: the neighbor tone moves by step away and then comes back to the same pitch. The other patterns describe different nonharmonic tones (like leaping in or out, or simply staying on the same pitch), which do not capture the defining stepwise approach and return of a neighbor tone.