What characterizes a neighbor tone?

A neighbor tone is characterized by stepwise motion that returns to the original consonant tone. This means that a neighbor tone is approached by a step (either ascending or descending) from a consonant tone, creating a brief dissonance before resolving back to the original consonant tone. This motion is typically used to embellish the melody and adds a sense of tension and release, enhancing the musical line.

In this context, the other descriptions do not accurately capture the essence of a neighbor tone. For instance, stepwise motion followed by a leap to a consonant tone describes a different harmonic practice, likely referring to an extension or embellishment that doesn't revert back to its starting point in the same way. Similarly, resolving from a dissonant tone does not specify the return to the original consonant tone, which is crucial for identifying a neighbor tone. Lastly, a leap between non-consonant notes indicates a different type of melodic movement that does not encapsulate the concept of neighbor tones at all. Understanding the motion and resolution patterns of neighbor tones is vital for analyzing and composing melodic lines effectively.