Harmony and Tonality

Question 1

Explain ‘Diatonic’

Answer 1

When all notes and pitches played belong to the key

Question 2

Explain ‘Chromatic’

Answer 2

Using notes and pitches outside of the key

Question 3

Explain ‘consonance’ (consonant)

Answer 3

When the music sounds ‘pleasant’ / ‘nice’

Question 4

Explain ‘dissonance’ (dissonant)

Answer 4

Sounds that clash

Question 5

Explain the technique ‘pedal’

Answer 5

A long held note

Question 6

Explain ‘drone’

Answer 6

A long held low pitched note

Question 7

What is a cadence?

Answer 7

The chords at the end of a musical phrase or piece

Question 8

What is a perfect cadence?

Answer 8

Chord of V-I (dominant to tonic)

Question 9

What is a plagal cadence?

Answer 9

Chord of IV-I (sub-dominant to tonic)

Question 10

What is an imperfect cadence?

Answer 10

Any chord to V (any to dominant)

Question 11

What is an interrupted cadence?

Answer 11

Chord of V-vi (dominant to sub-mediant)

Question 12

What is tonal music?

Answer 12

Music with a particular key

Question 13

What is atonal music?

Answer 13

Music without a key

Question 14

What do we mean by major?

Answer 14

Full, bright, happy sounding music

Question 15

What do we mean by minor?

Answer 15

Sad, dark, depressing music

Question 16

What is a major chord?

Answer 16

A chord made up of root note- 3rd-5th

Question 17

What is a minor chord?

Answer 17

A chord made up of root note- minor 3rd-5th

Question 18

What is modal music?

Answer 18

Music that is neither major nor minor. Modal music tends to have a specific mood or atmosphere

Question 19

What is a mode?

Answer 19

Modes came before scales- A mode is a specific set of pitches that must start on a specific pitch

Question 20

What is a scale?

Answer 20

A specific pattern of tones and semi-tones that an start on any pitch

Question 21

What key has no flats or sharps?

Answer 21

C major

Question 22

What key has 1 flat?

Answer 22

F major ( 1 flat Bb)

Question 23

What key has 2 flats?

Answer 23

Bb major (2 flats Bb+ Eb)

Question 24

What key has 3 flats?

Answer 24

Eb major (3 flats Bb+Eb+Ab)

Question 25

What key has 4 flats?

Answer 25

Ab major (4 flats Bb+Eb+Ab+Db)

Question 26

What key has 1 sharp?

Answer 26

G major ( 1 sharp F#)

Question 27

What key has 2 sharps?

Answer 27

D major (2 sharps F#+C#)

Question 28

What key has 3 sharps?

Answer 28

A major (3 sharps F#+C#+G#)

Question 29

What key has 4 sharps?

Answer 29

E major (4 sharps F#+C#+G#+D#)

Question 30

What is a modulation?

Answer 30

A change of key

Question 31

What is the most common modulation?

Answer 31

Most common= to the dominant. Other common modulations: to the tonic minor, to the subdominant.