What is the approach of an appoggiatura to dissonance?

The appoggiatura is a type of non-chord tone that typically creates a moment of tension or dissonance within a musical phrase before resolving to a consonant tone. In its standard usage, it is approached by leap, which means that the note jumps from one pitch to another instead of moving in a stepwise fashion. This leap creates an immediate sense of tension, characteristic of an appoggiatura.

After creating this dissonant feeling, the appoggiatura resolves by moving to a pitch that is a step away, typically in the direction of the chord that it is leading into. This resolution transforms the dissonance into consonance, resolving to a stable and restful note. This approach and resolution pattern is essential for understanding how appoggiaturas function in harmonic and melodic contexts, particularly in Western classical music.