musical elements: tonality

Question 1

define tonality

Answer 1

the arrangement of pitches and chords in a piece of music, normally by key, e.g. C major

Question 2

define atonal

Answer 2

music not related to a tonic note and therefore has no sense of key

Question 3

what is a major scale

Answer 3

a scale with a T-T-ST-T-T-T-ST intervallic pattern. Sounds ‘bright’ and ‘happy’

Question 4

what is a minor scale

Answer 4

a scale with a flattened 3rd and 6th, and raised (sharp) 7th. Sounds ‘dark’ and ‘sad’

Question 5

what is modulation

Answer 5

moving to a different key during a piece

Question 6

define dominant key

Answer 6

major scale built on the fifth note of the scale e.g. the dominant key of C major is D major

Question 7

define relative minor key

Answer 7

minor scale 3 semitones below the major tonic, which shares the same key signature

Question 8

define relative major key

Answer 8

major scale 3 semitones above the minor tonic, which shares the same key signature

Question 9

define pentatonic

Answer 9

scale comprising five notes