Music Theory Overveiw

Question 1

The 12 unique pitches in Western music are called ________.

Answer 1

Notes

Question 2

The smallest distance between two notes is called a ________ step.

Answer 2

half

Question 3

Two half steps equal one ________ step.

Answer 3

whole

Question 4

The major scale has the pattern _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Answer 4

W-W-H-W-W-W-H

Question 5

The minor scale has the pattern _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Answer 5

W-H-W-W-H-W-W

Question 6

The major scale typically sounds ________ (happy or sad).

Answer 6

happy

Question 7

The minor scale typically sounds ________ (happy or sad).

Answer 7

sad

Question 8

A chord made up of 3 notes (root, 3rd, and 5th) is called a ________.

Answer 8

triad

Question 9

A ________ chord has a happy sound and includes the notes C-E-G.

Answer 9

major

Question 10

A ________ chord has a sad sound and includes the notes C-E♭-G.

Answer 10

minor

Question 11

A seventh chord includes a ________ added to a triad.

Answer 11

7th

Question 12

A common chord progression in C major is ________ .

Answer 12

I-IV-V-I

Question 13

The steady pulse of the music is called the ________.

Answer 13

beat

Question 14

A 4/4 time signature means there are __ beats per measure.

Answer 14

4

Question 15

A ________ note gets 1 beat in 4/4 time.

Answer 15

quarter

Question 16

A ________ note gets ½ beat in 4/4 time.

Answer 16

eighth

Question 17

The tonal center of a song is called the ____.

Answer 17

key

Question 18

The key signature indicates which notes are ________ or ________ in a piece of music.

Answer 18

sharp, flat

Question 19

C Major has ___ sharps or flats in its key signature.

Answer 19

no

Question 20

When notes or chords sound stable and pleasant, this is called ___________.

Answer 20

consonance

Question 21

When notes or chords create tension and need resolution, this is called ____________.

Answer 21

dissonance

Question 22

The “home” chord in a key is called the ________ chord.

Answer 22

tonic

Question 23

The chord that creates tension and leads back to the tonic is called the __________ chord.

Answer 23

dominant

Question 24

A sequence of notes that forms the main tune of a song is called a ________.

Answer 24

melody

Question 25

A melody is often broken into musical “sentences” called ________.

Answer 25

phrases

Question 26

The major scale is called the ________ mode.

Answer 26

Ionian

Question 27

The minor scale with a raised 6th is called the ________ mode.

Answer 27

Dorian

Question 28

The minor scale with a lowered 2nd is called the ________ mode.

Answer 28

Phrygian

Question 29

The major scale with a raised 4th is called the ________ mode.

Answer 29

Lydian

Question 30

The major scale with a lowered 7th is called the ________ mode.

Answer 30

Mixolydian

Question 31

The natural minor scale is called the ________ mode.

Answer 31

Aeolian

Question 32

The diminished scale is called the ________ mode.

Answer 32

Locrian

Question 33

The volume of the music is called ________.

Answer 33

dynamics

Question 34

A note played short and detached is called ________.

Answer 34

staccato

Question 35

A note played smoothly and connected is called ________.

Answer 35

legato

Question 36

A common structure in pop music is ________ (verse-chorus-verse-chorus).

Answer 36

verse-chorus-verse-chorus

Question 37

A section of a song that contrasts with the verse and chorus is called the ________.

Answer 37

bridge

Question 38

The Circle of Fifths shows the relationship between ________ and ________ keys.

Answer 38

major, minor

Question 39

The distance between two notes is called an ________.

Answer 39

interval

Question 40

Recognizing whether a chord is major, minor, or diminished by sound is called ________ identification.

Answer 40

chord