Minor Scales: Types, Construction, Intervals, and Characteristics

Question 1

What is a defining characteristic of the natural minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Flattened third

Answer

Raised seventh

Answer

Uplifting sound

Question 2

Which notes are present in the natural minor scale of C minor?

Accepted Answer

C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb

Answer

C, D, Eb, F#, G, Ab, Bb

Answer

C, D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb

Answer

C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb

Question 3

Which characteristic is NOT a feature of the natural minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Raised leading tone (seventh scale degree)

Answer

Minor second interval between tonic and supertonic

Answer

Minor third interval between tonic and mediant

Answer

Widely used in traditional folk music

Question 4

Which of the following intervals is found between the tonic and the mediant in a natural minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Minor third

Answer

Diminished fourth

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Major third

Question 5

In a harmonic minor scale, the leading tone is raised by a:

Accepted Answer

Semitone

Answer

Whole tone

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Question 6

Which of the following statements about the melodic minor scale is true?

Accepted Answer

It has a raised leading tone in both ascending and descending forms

Answer

It is the same as the natural minor scale

Answer

It has a lowered sixth degree in the descending form only

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a natural minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Lowered leading tone

Answer

Minor sixth between the tonic and submediant

Answer

Perfect fifth between the tonic and dominant

Answer

Minor third between the tonic and mediant

Question 8

The minor scale that is used in traditional folk music is typically the:

Accepted Answer

Natural minor scale

Answer

Melodic minor scale (ascending form)

Answer

Melodic minor scale (descending form)

Answer

Harmonic minor scale

Question 9

Which of the following sequences of intervals represents the pattern of whole and half steps in a harmonic minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Whole, half, whole, whole, half, one-and-a-half, whole, whole

Answer

Whole, half, whole, half, half, whole, whole, half

Answer

Whole, whole, half, whole, half, whole, whole, half

Question 10

What is the leading tone in a melodic minor scale?

Accepted Answer

The 7th degree

Answer

The 6th degree

Answer

The 2nd degree

Answer

The 4th degree

Question 11

Which of the following minor scales is NOT used in Western classical music?

Accepted Answer

Double harmonic minor

Answer

Natural minor

Answer

Harmonic minor

Answer

Melodic minor

Question 12

In which musical context might you encounter a melodic minor scale with a lowered 7th degree?

Accepted Answer

A cadenza

Answer

A fugue

Answer

A chorale

Answer

A symphony

Question 13

What is the distinctive difference between a harmonic minor scale and a natural minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Raised 7th note in the harmonic minor scale

Answer

Lowered 5th note in the natural minor scale

Answer

Raised 6th note in the natural minor scale

Answer

Lowered 2nd note in the harmonic minor scale

Question 14

In a minor scale, what is the interval between the tonic and submediant?

Accepted Answer

Minor sixth

Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Major sixth

Answer

Perfect sixth

Question 15

Which characteristic is common to all minor scales?

Accepted Answer

A minor third interval between the tonic and mediant

Answer

A perfect fifth interval between the tonic and dominant

Answer

A major seventh interval between the tonic and leading tone

Answer

A minor second interval between the supertonic and submediant

Question 16

Which of the following intervals is present in the natural minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Minor third (m3)

Answer

Augmented fourth (A4)

Answer

Major second (M2)

Question 17

Which minor scale is characterized by a raised 7th scale degree in its ascending form?

Accepted Answer

Melodic minor scale (ascending)

Answer

Major scale

Answer

Harmonic minor scale

Answer

Natural minor scale

Question 18

What is the interval between the root and the 5th scale degree in the harmonic minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Perfect fifth (P5)

Answer

Major third (M3)

Answer

Minor third (m3)

Answer

Augmented fifth (A5)

Question 19

What is the root note of an A minor scale with a melodic minor ascending form?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

G

Answer

C

Question 20

Which of the following scales is NOT a type of minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Lydian scale

Answer

Melodic minor scale

Answer

Natural minor scale

Answer

Harmonic minor scale

Question 21

Which of the following is a characteristic of the harmonic minor scale?

Accepted Answer

Raised 7th scale degree

Answer

Lowered 6th scale degree

Answer

Augmented 2nd scale degree

Answer

Lowered 3rd scale degree

Question 22

Which of the following minor scales is used in the key of G minor with a melodic minor descending form?

Accepted Answer

G minor scale with lowered 6th and 7th scale degrees

Answer

G harmonic minor scale

Answer

G minor scale with a raised 7th scale degree