Harmony and Counterpoint Quizzes: Master Music Theory Concepts

Question 1

What is the interval between the root and the third of a C major triad?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor second

Answer

Major second

Answer

Minor third

Question 2

What is the term for a sequence of chords that progress smoothly and logically?

Accepted Answer

Chord progression

Answer

Harmonic sequence

Answer

Cadence

Answer

Canon

Question 3

Which term describes a musical texture in which one melody is accompanied by chords?

Accepted Answer

Homophony

Answer

Harmony

Answer

Counterpoint

Answer

Polyphony

Question 4

Which composer is renowned for his mastery of polyphonic writing?

Accepted Answer

Johann Sebastian Bach

Answer

Ludwig van Beethoven

Answer

Claude Debussy

Answer

Igor Stravinsky

Question 5

What is the primary function of figured bass?

Accepted Answer

To indicate the chords to be played

Answer

To provide rhythmic information

Answer

To specify the instrumentation

Answer

To guide the improvisation of melodic lines

Question 6

What term refers to a musical texture featuring multiple independent melodies?

Accepted Answer

Polyphony

Answer

Monophony

Answer

Homophony

Answer

Heterophony

Question 7

In a major key, the tonic chord is commonly a **major chord** built on the first note of the scale. Which of the following chords fits this description?

Accepted Answer

G major

Answer

C minor

Answer

D half-diminished

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT considered a triad chord?

Accepted Answer

Dominant seventh chord

Answer

Major triad

Answer

Minor triad

Answer

Augmented triad

Question 9

What is the root note of a C major triad?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

E

Answer

G

Answer

B

Question 10

What is the interval between the root and the third in a minor chord?

Accepted Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Perfect fifth

Question 11

Which counterpoint technique involves two or more melodies moving in parallel motion?

Accepted Answer

Parallelism

Answer

Canon

Answer

Imitation

Answer

Oblique motion

Question 12

What is the term for a melody that remains relatively static while other voices move around it?

Accepted Answer

Cantus firmus

Answer

Melodic inversion

Answer

Retrograde

Answer

Stretto

Question 13

Which of the following is a characteristic of polyphonic music?

Accepted Answer

Multiple independent melodies

Answer

Predominant use of homophony

Answer

Emphasis on vertical sonorities

Answer

Lack of melodic interest

Question 14

What is the primary goal of using dissonant counterpoint?

Accepted Answer

To create tension and movement

Answer

To avoid harsh clashes

Answer

To imitate natural speech patterns

Answer

To emphasize melodic independence

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a type of triad chord?

Accepted Answer

Suspended fourth chord

Answer

Major triad

Answer

Minor triad

Answer

Augmented triad

Question 16

What is the root position of a C major 7th chord?

Accepted Answer

C-E-G-B

Answer

E-G-B-C

Answer

G-B-C-E

Answer

B-C-E-G

Question 17

Which chord progression typically resolves to a tonic chord?

Accepted Answer

II-V-I

Answer

I-IV-V

Answer

IV-V-III

Answer

VI-VII-I

Question 18

What is the term for a non-chord tone that resolves stepwise to a chord tone?

Accepted Answer

Passing tone

Answer

Appoggiatura

Answer

Suspension

Answer

Neighboring tone

Question 19

What is the function of a leading tone in harmony?

Accepted Answer

To create tension and resolve to the tonic

Answer

To embellish a melody

Answer

To provide harmonic support

Answer

To create a sense of modulation

Question 20

Which composer is known for their pioneering use of chromatic harmony?

Accepted Answer

Richard Wagner

Answer

Johann Sebastian Bach

Answer

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Answer

Ludwig van Beethoven

Question 21

In a root position triad, which note is the foundation of the chord?

Accepted Answer

Root

Answer

Third

Answer

Fifth

Question 22

Which of the following chord progressions is considered a perfect cadence?

Accepted Answer

V - I

Answer

I - IV - V

Answer

I - ii - V7

Answer

IV - V - iii

Question 23

In counterpoint, what is the term for a melody that moves in an opposite direction to another?

Accepted Answer

Contrary motion

Answer

Oblique motion

Answer

Parallel motion

Answer

Similar motion

Question 24

How many voices are typically found in a two-part counterpoint?

Accepted Answer

2

Answer

1

Answer

3

Answer

4

Question 25

Which musical interval is characterized by a step of two semitones and sounds harmonious?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor second

Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Minor sixth

Question 26

In a musical time signature of 3/4, how many beats are there per measure, and what note value receives one beat?

Accepted Answer

3 beats, quarter note

Answer

4 beats, half note

Answer

6 beats, eighth note

Answer

12 beats, sixteenth note

Question 27

In counterpoint, what technique involves creating a new melody by reversing the direction of an existing melody?

Accepted Answer

Retrograde

Answer

Inversion

Answer

Canon

Answer

Fugue

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental principle of harmony?

Accepted Answer

Consonance

Answer

Balance

Answer

Contrast

Answer

Repetition

Question 29

Which element is NOT a component of a triad chord?

Accepted Answer

Seventh (added for clarity)

Answer

Root

Answer

Third

Answer

Fifth

Question 30

What is the name of a chord progression that leads to a tonic chord, creating a sense of resolution?

Accepted Answer

Cadence

Answer

Sequence

Answer

Arpeggio

Answer

Suspension

Question 31

In two-part counterpoint, which of the following intervals is considered dissonant?

Accepted Answer

Minor second (updated for accuracy)

Answer

Perfect unison

Answer

Perfect octave

Answer

Major third

Question 32

Which type of chord is characterized by a diminished fifth interval?

Accepted Answer

Diminished chord

Answer

Major chord

Answer

Minor chord

Answer

Augmented chord

Question 33

Which of these is a fundamental principle of counterpoint?

Accepted Answer

Independent melodic lines

Answer

Frequent use of dissonance

Answer

Similar melodic motion for unity

Answer

Avoidance of perfect intervals

Question 34

Which of the following is a triad chord?

Accepted Answer

C major

Answer

C major 7

Answer

C minor 6

Answer

C diminished 7

Question 35

What is the root position of a C major chord?

Accepted Answer

C-E-G

Answer

E-G-C

Answer

G-C-E

Answer

C-G-E

Question 36

Which of the following is classified as a dissonance?

Accepted Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Unison

Answer

Octave

Answer

Major third

Question 37

In a triad, which note is the root?

Accepted Answer

The lowest note

Answer

The middle note

Answer

The highest note

Question 38

Which type of interval is considered dissonant?

Accepted Answer

Major seventh

Answer

Major second

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Perfect octave

Question 39

What is the name of a chord that includes a suspended fourth?

Accepted Answer

Sus4 chord

Answer

Sus2 chord

Answer

Augmented chord

Answer

Diminished chord

Question 40

What scale contains all 12 chromatic notes?

Accepted Answer

Chromatic scale

Answer

Diatonic scale

Answer

Pentatonic scale

Answer

Whole tone scale