Music Theory

Question 1

Normal spacing definition (C)

Answer 1

C - Unison
D - Major 2nd
E - Major 2nd
F - Perfect 4th
G - Perfect 5th
A - Major 6th
B - Major 7th

Question 2

Flat interval spacing definition (C)

Answer 2

Db - Min 2nd
Eb - Min 3rd
Fb - Dim 3rd
Gb - Dim 3rd
Ab - Min 6th
Bb - Min 7th

Question 3

Sharp interval spacing definition (C)

Answer 3

D# - Aug 2nd
E# - Aug 3r
F# - Aug 4th
G# - Aug 5th
A# - Aug 6th
B# - Aug 7th

Question 4

How are minor and diminished intervals represented?

Answer 4

With a flat ‘b’ symbol followed by the interval

i.e minor third = b3

diminished 5th = #5

Question 5

What is the chord order for triads?

Answer 5

I = Major
II = Minor
III = Minor
IV = Major
V - Major
IV = Minor
VII - Minor/ Diminished

Question 6

What is the triad spacing definition for chord types?

Answer 6

Major =           1    3    5
Augmented = 1    3   #5
Minor =           1    b3    5
Diminished =  1    b3     b5
Sus 2 =            1     2      5
Sus 4=              1    4      5

Question 7

What is the chord order for tetrachords?

Answer 7

I = Major 7
II = Minor 7
III = Minor 7
IV = Major 7
V = Dominant 7
VI = Minor 7
VII = Minor 7 / Half diminished

Question 8

Diatonic tetrachord spacings?

Answer 8

Major7 = 1 3 5 7

Minor7 = 1 b3 5 b7

Dominant7 = 1 3 5 b7

Minor7 (b5) = 1 b3 b5 b7

Question 9

Alternative tetrachord spacings?

Answer 9

Major 6 = 1 3 5 6

Major 7 (b5) - 1 3 b5 7

Major 7 (#5) - 1 3 #5 7

Question 10

What are chord inversions, and how are they constructed from a C7 chord?

Answer 10

C major = C E G B

C maj 7/ E = E G B C

C maj 7/G = G B C E

C maj 7/ B = B C E G

Question 11

Which chords are Tonics?

Answer 11

I

III

VI

Question 12

What chords are subdominant?

Answer 12

II

IV

Question 13

What chords are dominant?

Answer 13

V

Question 14

What is the definition of dominant chords?

Answer 14

They are unstable and commonly require an immediate resolution.

Question 15

What is a perfect/ authentic/ cadence or resolution

Answer 15

V - I

Question 16

What is a plagal cadence/ resolution

Answer 16

IV to I

Question 17

What is an interrupted cadence/ resolution

Answer 17

V to anything else

Question 18

What is an imperfect cadence

Answer 18

Anything to V

Question 19

What are chord extensions

Answer 19

Extending 7th chords in 3rds without repetitions

1 3 5 7 9 11 13

Question 20

What are chord tones

Answer 20

1 3 5 7

Question 21

What are chord tensions

Answer 21

9 11 13

Question 22

What are secondary dominant chords

Answer 22

Borrowed chords from the key that you are trying to resolve or move to.

They use they ket of the target chord to find the notes of the secondary dominant.

Question 23

Which tensions can be used in secondary dominants?

Answer 23

9

b9

b 13

Question 24

What do secondary dominants resolve up to?

Answer 24

They resolve up a perfect 4th to a diatonic chord

Question 25

How are secondary dominant chords written (C)

Answer 25

V7/ II = (A7 in key of C) V7/ III = (B7 in key of C) V7/ IV = (C7 in key of C) and so on

Question 26

What are extended (sequential) dominant chords?

Answer 26

They are chords that move up in 4ths, dominant chords with roots that are diatonic. Only the first and last chords need to be analysed.

Question 27

What are substitute dominant chords?

Answer 27

They are dominant chords with roots that are diatonic and resolve a half step down.

Question 28

How are substitute dominant chords written (C)

Answer 28

Sub v7 = (Db7 in key of C major) Sub V7/ II = (Eb7 in key of C major) Sub V7/ IV = (Gb7 in key of C major) and so on

Question 29

What are the natural minor diatonic tetrachords chords?

Answer 29

``` I min7 II min7 (b5) bIII Maj7 IV min7 V min7 bVI Maj7 BVII 7 ```

Question 30

What are the harmonic minor diatonic tetrachords?

Answer 30

``` I min (maj7) II min7(b5) bIII +Maj7 IV min7 V7 Dominant bVI Maj7 VII dim7 ```

Question 31

What are the ascending (jazz) minor diatonic tetrachords?

Answer 31

``` I min(Maj7) II min7 bIII Maj7 IV7 V7 VI min7(b5) VII min7 (b5) ```

Question 32

What are the alternative diatonic scales?

Answer 32

Ionian Dorian Phyrigian Lydian Mixolydian Aoelian Locrian

Question 33

What is the Ionian scale

Answer 33

The same as the major scale

Question 34

What is the dorian scale

Answer 34

The 3rd and 7th move down a semitone

Question 35

What is the Phrygian scale

Answer 35

The 2nd 3rd 6th and 7th move down a semitone

Question 36

What is the Lydian scale

Answer 36

The 4th moves up a semintone

Question 37

What is the mixolydian scale

Answer 37

The 7th moves down a semitone

Question 38

What is a modulation?

Answer 38

When songs move from one key or tonal centre to another for a section e.g a bridge or longer passage

Question 39

What is modal interchange?

Answer 39

When songs incorporate shorter passages where chords are borrowed from another key

Question 40

What are diminished structures commonly seen as?

Answer 40

Passing chords, and may also have an auxiliary function i