Avoid note

In jazz theory, an avoid note is a scale degree which is considered especially dissonant relative to the harmony implied by the root chord, and is thus better avoided.

In major-key tonality the avoid note is the fourth diatonic scale step, or 11th, which is a minor ninth above the 3rd of the chord, and thus sounds very harsh.[1] In melody it is usually avoided, treated as a "scale approach note"[2] or passing note,[3] or sharpened. It is not available in harmony. The available tensions for a dominant seventh chord are ♭9, 9, ♯9, ♯11, ♭5 , ♭13, and 13.[1]

In minor harmony the sixth scale step is usually avoided, and the 13th is not regarded as an available tension.[2]

In modal terms, the available scale steps of the mode (or available tensions for the chords) of the diatonic scale steps are those a whole step above the chord tones, and the avoid notes are those that are not. The only exception is the Dorian mode of the second scale degree, where the sixth is avoided although it is a whole step above the fifth; this is because the tritone between this and the third scale step would give an unwanted dominant quality.[2] Taking C major as an example, the avoid notes are:[2]

Avoid notes for modes of the C major scale
Scale degreeChordModeAvoid noteAvailable tensions
1Cmaj7IonianFourth scale step, F9, 13
2Dm7DorianSixth scale step, B9, 11
3Em7PhrygianSecond and sixth scale steps, F and C11
4Fmaj7LydianNo avoid note9, ♯11, 13
5G7MixolydianFourth scale step, C9, 13
6Am7AeolianSixth scale step, F9, 11
7Bø7LocrianSecond scale step, C11, ♭13

In his modal approach to minor harmony Haerle[4] does not use the term avoid note, but discusses "intolerably dissonant" notes and how they should be resolved. For the melodic minor scale he gives these:

Avoid notes for modes of the melodic minor scale
Scale degreeChordModeAvoid noteAvailable tensions
1CmΔIonian, ♭3No avoid note9, 11, 13
2Dm7Dorian, ♭2Second scale step, E♭11, 13
3E♭augΔLydian-augmentedSixth scale step, C9, ♯11
4F7Lydian, ♭7No avoid note9, ♯11, 13
5G7Mixolydian, ♭6Either the fifth or sixth scale step, D or E♭9, 11
6Am7/♭5Locrian, ♯2No avoid note9, 11, ♭13
7Bm7/♭5Super LocrianNo avoid note(usually played as altered dominant)

See also

References
  1. Nettles, Barrie (1987). Harmony 1. Berklee College of Music. p. 34-35.
  2. Nettles, Barrie (1987). Harmony 3. Berklee College of Music. pp. 15–17.
  3. Humphries, Carl (2002). The Piano Handbook (1st ed.). San Francisco: Freeman: Backbeat Books. p. 128. ISBN 0-87930-727-7.
  4. Haerle, Dan (1980). The Jazz Language: A Theory Text for Jazz Composition and Improvisation. Miami, Florida: Studio 224. ISBN 978-0-7604-0014-2.
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