4. Technical Degree Names and Chromatic Scales

Question 1

What is a chromatic scale made up of?

Answer 1

Only semi-tones and contains all twelve notes in the octave.

Question 2

What are technical degree names used for?

Answer 2

To identify the degrees of a scale.

Question 3

What is the procedure to use when identifying the technical degree name?

Answer 3

Start at the Tonic and count UP to determine the scale degree.

Question 4

List the 7 technical degree names starting at 1.

Answer 4

1. Tonic
2. Supertonic
3. Mediant
4. Subdominant
5. Dominant
6. Submediant
7. Leading Note

Question 5

List the technical degree names starting at 8.

Answer 5

8. Tonic
9. Leading Tone
10. Submediant
11. Dominant
12. Subdominant
13. Mediant
14. Supertonic
15. Tonic

Question 6

Describe scale degree 8 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.

Answer 6

Tonic - octave Tonic note

Question 7

Describe scale degree 7 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.

Answer 7

Leading note - semitone below Tonic

Question 8

Describe scale degree 6 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.

Answer 8

Submediant - 3rd below Tonic

Question 9

Describe scale degree 5 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.

Answer 9

Dominant - 5th above the Tonic

Question 10

Describe scale degree 4 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.

Answer 10

Subdominant - 5th below the Tonic

Question 11

Describe scale degree 3 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.

Answer 11

Mediant - 3rd above Tonic

Question 12

Describe scale degree 2 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.

Answer 12

Supertonic - 2nd above the Tonic

Question 13

Describe scale degree 1 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.

Answer 13

Tonic - 1st note of the key (Key Note)

Question 14

Where is the 7 degree in the natural minor scale compared to the Major scale and what is it called?

Answer 14

In a natural minor scale the 7 degree (leading note) is a whole tone (whole step) below the Tonic and is called the Subtonic. In a Major scale the Leading Note is a semitone (half step) below the Tonic.

Question 15

What are Roman numerals used to identify in relation to triads?

Answer 15

The type/quality of a triad built on each degree of a scale.

Question 16

What are upper case Roman numerals used to identify (I, II, III, IV etc)?

Answer 16

Major triads

Question 17

What are lower case Roman numerals used to identify (i,ii, iii etc)?

Answer 17

Minor triads

Question 18

In the Major scale, only triads built on what scale degrees are Major or minor triads?

Answer 18

Tonic, Supertonic, Mediant, Subdominant, Dominant and Submediant.

Question 19

In the Harmonic minor scale, only triads built on what scale degrees are Major or minor triads?

Answer 19

Tonic, Subdominant, Dominant and Submediant.

Question 20

What does the Dominant triad in the harmonic minor scale contain?

Answer 20

The raised 7th note (leading note)

Question 21

A) What keys are used in a Chromatic scale?

B) What does a chromatic scale always begin and end on?

Answer 21

A) All 12 semitones in the octave, plus the upper Tonic for a total of 13.
B) On the same Tonic note.

Question 22

Describe how a chromatic scale is written.

Answer 22

Chromatic scales always begins and ends on the same Tonic note. A letter name is not repeated more than twice. Can be written using accidentals or using the Major Key Signature of the Tonic note. May be written with or without a centre bar line.

Question 23

How many types of chromatic scales are there and what are they?

Answer 23

Two. Harmonic Chromatic and Melodic Chromatic.

Question 24

What is the set form of a Harmonic Chromatic scale?

Answer 24

It uses a single Tonic, Dominant and upper Tonic note ascending, and a single Dominant and Tonic note descending. All other notes are used twice. Double sharps or flats may be necessary to write a note twice.

Question 25

What does a centre bar line do when writing an harmonic or chromatic scale?

Answer 25

Cancels an accidental. Accidentals have to be rewritten in the descending scale.

Question 26

Is the a set form for a melodic chromatic scale?

Answer 26

No

Question 27

What is one standard notation for writing a melodic chromatic scale?

Answer 27

Raise the semitones on the way up (the ascending scale) and lower them on the way down (descending scale). There will be five single notes and all other notes are used twice.

Question 28

What should you do when writing a melodic chromatic scale that begins on a flat?

Answer 28

Switch to sharps as soon as possible in the ascending scale.

Question 29

Does a melodic chromatic scale use the exact same notes ascending and descending?

Answer 29

No

Question 30

How may a melodic chromatic scale be written?

Answer 30

Based on the Major scale using a single note for the Mediant (III), Leading Note (VII) and upper Tonic (VIII) ascending, and Subdominant (IV) and lower Tonic (I) descending. All other notes will be written twice.

Question 31

What notation of a melodic chromatic is considered correct?

Answer 31

Any standard notation that starts and ends on the same Tonic note and does not use any letter (degree) name more than twice.

Question 32

What are the major chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Major scales?

Answer 32

I, IV and IV

Question 33

What are the major chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Natural minor scales?

Answer 33

III, VI and VII

Question 34

What are the major chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Harmonic minor scales?

Answer 34

V, VI

Question 35

What are the major chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Melodic minor scales?

Answer 35

IV, V

Question 36

What are the minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Major scales?

Answer 36

ii, iii, vi

Question 37

What are the minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Natural minor scales?

Answer 37

i, iv and v

Question 38

What are the minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Harmonic minor scales?

Answer 38

i, iv

Question 39

What are the minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Melodic minor scales?

Answer 39

i, ii

Question 40

What are the diminished minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Major scales?

Answer 40

vii dim

Question 41

What are the diminished minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Natural minor scales?

Answer 41

ii dim

Question 42

What are the diminished minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Harmonic minor scales?

Answer 42

ii dim, vii dim

Question 43

What are the diminished minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Melodic minor scales?

Answer 43

vi dim, vii dim

Question 44

What are the major augmented chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Major scales?

Answer 44

No augmented chords

Question 45

What are the augmented minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Natural minor scales?

Answer 45

No augmented chords

Question 46

What are the augmented minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Harmonic minor scales?

Answer 46

III Aug

Question 47

What are the augmented minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Melodic minor scales?

Answer 47

III Aug