Music theory

Question 1

What are the names of each scale degree?

Answer 1

Tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, leading tone, octave.

Question 2

What is the pattern of steps that makes up the major scale?

Answer 2

W W H W W W H W

Question 3

What is the pattern of whole and half notes in the Dorian mode? What note would this scale start on relative to C Ionian?

Answer 3

W H W W W H W

D

Question 4

What is the pattern of whole and half notes in the Phrygian mode? What note would this scale start on relative to C Ionian?

Answer 4

H W W W H W W

E

Question 5

What is the pattern of whole and half notes in the Lydian mode? What note would this scale start on relative to C Ionian?

Answer 5

W W W H W W H

F

Question 6

What is the quality of every chord built from the major scale?

Answer 6

Question 7

What is a neighbour tone?

Answer 7

Question 8

What is a passing tone?

Answer 8

Question 9

What are the chord qualities based on the harmonic minor scale?

Answer 9

Major instead of augmented in classical period

Question 10

What is the notation for figured bass for root, 1st and 2nd inversion chords?

Answer 10

Question 11

What is the figured bass notation for root, 1st, 2nd and 3rd inversion dominant 7th chords?

Answer 11

V7
V6 5
V4 3
V4 2

Question 12

What are the three types of harmonic progression?

Answer 12

Prolongation, cadential, sequential

Question 13

What are methods of sustaining a prolonged harmony?

Answer 13

Pedal point, neighboring chords, passing chords, substitute chords

Question 14

What is the goal of a cadential progression? When would it fail that goal?

Answer 14

To confirm a tonal centre. When it’s a deceptive cadence.

Question 15

What is the goal of a sequential cadence?

Answer 15

To destabilise a key by playing the expectations of what is a functional chord.

Question 16

What are the six types of sequential progression?

Answer 16

Ascending and descending 5th, 3rd and 2nd.

Question 17

What are the eight chords in a typical descending 5th sequential progression?

Answer 17

Question 18

Starting from I, give five chords in an ascending 5th sequential progression.

Answer 18

Question 19

What are the eight chords in a typical descending 3rd sequential progression?

Answer 19

Question 20

Give eight chords that describe an ascending 3rds sequential progression. Why are additional dominants used? What key could this be used to modulate to if C is I?

Answer 20

To support smooth voice leading. Bm.

Question 21

Give the seven chords in a typical descending 2nd sequential progression.

Answer 21

Question 22

Give the eight chords that make up a typical ascending 2nd sequential progression.

Question 23

Is I - IV - viidim a functional chord progression?

Answer 23

No, but it sounds like one because the root movement is the same as for ii-V-I.

Question 24

What are the four types of theme in classical form?

Question 25

Define a theme.

Answer 25

Question 26

What are the four types of hybrid themes?

Answer 26

Question 27

What's the most important theme type of the classical era?

Answer 27

the sentence.

Question 28

Define the sentence.

Answer 28

Question 29

What four things is the presentation phrase of a sentence trying to establish?

Answer 29

Question 30

What four processes are used by the continuation phrase to destabilise the presentation phrase?

Answer 30