Melody and Harmony: Master the Basics of Music Composition

Question 1

What type of scale is **NOT** included in the following list?

Accepted Answer

Chromatic

Answer

Major

Answer

Minor

Answer

Pentatonic

Question 2

Which musical term refers to the distance and relationship between two musical notes?

Accepted Answer

Interval

Answer

Chord

Answer

Progression

Answer

Harmony

Question 3

Which of the following is a major triad?

Accepted Answer

C - E - G

Answer

C - E - A

Answer

C - F - A

Answer

C - G - B

Question 4

Which type of vocal harmony involves multiple independent melodies?

Accepted Answer

Polyphony

Answer

Homophony

Answer

Heterophony

Answer

Monophony

Question 5

What system organizes music into 12 different pitches?

Accepted Answer

Chromatic scale

Answer

Diatonic scale

Answer

Pentatonic scale

Answer

Blues scale

Question 6

Which combination of notes creates a major triad?

Accepted Answer

1-3-5

Answer

1-2-5

Answer

1-4-5

Answer

1-3-6

Question 7

A musical sequence that uses a series of chords is called a chord:

Accepted Answer

Progression

Answer

Pattern

Answer

Melody

Answer

Harmony

Question 8

An interval that spans two adjacent piano keys is known as a:

Accepted Answer

Half step

Answer

Whole step

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major third

Question 9

A scale that includes a lowered third note is known as a:

Accepted Answer

Minor scale

Answer

Major scale

Answer

Pentatonic scale

Answer

Chromatic scale

Question 10

The chord built on the first note of a scale is called the:

Accepted Answer

Tonic chord

Answer

Dominant chord

Answer

Subdominant chord

Answer

Mediant chord

Question 11

Which of the following describes the direction of a melody?

Accepted Answer

Contour

Answer

Range

Answer

Harmony

Answer

Tempo

Question 12

A musical progression that creates a sense of movement or resolution is called a:

Accepted Answer

Cadence

Answer

Sequence

Answer

Ostinato

Answer

Progression

Question 13

A whole tone is how many semitones?

Accepted Answer

Two

Answer

One

Answer

Three

Answer

Four

Question 14

A small group of singers performing together is a:

Accepted Answer

Quartet

Answer

Symphony

Answer

Brass band

Answer

Big band

Question 15

Which musical period is known for its intricate ornamentation and complex melodies?

Accepted Answer

Baroque

Answer

Classical

Answer

Romantic

Answer

Modern

Question 16

What is the correct order of notes in the major scale?

Accepted Answer

Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half

Answer

Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole

Answer

Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half

Answer

Whole, Whole, Half, Half, Whole, Whole, Half

Question 17

An interval is defined as the:

Accepted Answer

Difference in pitch between two notes

Answer

Distance between two notes

Answer

Number of notes between two notes

Answer

Length of time between two notes

Question 18

Which of these is NOT a type of chord?

Accepted Answer

Interval

Answer

Major

Answer

Minor

Answer

Diminished

Question 19

What is a chord progression?

Accepted Answer

A set of chords played in a specific order

Answer

A series of notes played in a specific order

Answer

A group of scales played in a specific order

Answer

A combination of notes and intervals played together

Question 20

Which interval typically creates a feeling of tension?

Accepted Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Major second

Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major third

Question 21

What is the interval between the notes C and E?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Half step

Answer

Whole step

Answer

Minor third

Question 22

Which of these is a triad chord?

Accepted Answer

C major

Answer

Cmin7

Answer

Csus2

Answer

Cdim

Question 23

What is the purpose of a cadence in music?

Accepted Answer

To create a sense of closure

Answer

To transition to a new key

Answer

To add variety to a melody

Answer

To create a sense of tension

Question 24

Which example is homophonic texture?

Accepted Answer

A melody with accompanying chords

Answer

Multiple melodies played together

Answer

A single line of music played by several instruments

Answer

A drone under a melody

Question 25

What is the difference between consonance and dissonance?

Accepted Answer

Consonant intervals sound pleasing; dissonant intervals sound harsh.

Answer

Dissonant intervals sound pleasing; consonant intervals sound harsh.

Answer

Consonant intervals have a wide interval; dissonant intervals have a narrow interval.

Answer

Dissonant intervals have a wide interval; consonant intervals have a narrow interval.

Question 26

The interval between two notes is called:

Accepted Answer

The distance between their pitches

Answer

The time between their attacks

Answer

The difference between their volumes

Answer

The sum of their durations

Question 27

Which type of scale contains only five notes?

Accepted Answer

Pentatonic

Answer

Major

Answer

Minor

Answer

Chromatic

Question 28

A group of three or more notes played simultaneously is called a:

Accepted Answer

Chord

Answer

Arpeggio

Answer

Interval

Answer

Scale

Question 29

Which chord progression is typically used to end a piece of music?

Accepted Answer

IV - V - I

Answer

I - IV - V

Answer

I - VI - IV - V

Answer

II - V - I

Question 30

The note that determines the key of a piece of music is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Tonic

Answer

Dominant

Answer

Subdominant

Answer

Leading tone

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a type of melodic contour?

Accepted Answer

Smooth

Answer

Ascending

Answer

Descending

Answer

Arpeggiated

Question 32

The repetition of a melody at a higher or lower pitch is called:

Accepted Answer

Transposition

Answer

Inversion

Answer

Retrograde

Answer

Canon

Question 33

The study of the combination of melodies is known as:

Accepted Answer

Counterpoint

Answer

Harmony

Answer

Orchestration

Answer

Arrangement

Question 34

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a pentatonic scale?

Accepted Answer

It is always played in the key of C.

Answer

It uses only five different notes.

Answer

It has no semitones.

Answer

It is often used in folk music.

Question 35

What is the interval between the notes A and C?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Major second

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Question 36

Which of the following chords is NOT a triad?

Accepted Answer

D7

Answer

C major

Answer

G minor

Answer

Fmaj7

Question 37

What is the difference between a monophonic and a polyphonic texture?

Accepted Answer

Monophonic texture has one line of music, while polyphonic texture has many lines of music.

Answer

Polyphonic texture has one line of music, while monophonic texture has many lines of music.

Answer

Monophonic texture is played on a higher pitch than polyphonic texture.

Answer

Polyphonic texture is played on a higher pitch than monophonic texture.

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a factor that affects the timbre of a sound?

Accepted Answer

The key of the instrument.

Answer

The shape of the instrument.

Answer

The material of the instrument.

Answer

The way the instrument is played.

Question 39

Which interval exists between notes C and G?

Accepted Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major second

Question 40

Which chord is not a major triad?

Accepted Answer

D minor

Answer

C major

Answer

G major

Answer

F major

Question 41

Which note is the root of the A minor chord?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

C

Answer

E

Answer

G

Question 42

G major has which sharps or flats in its key signature?

Accepted Answer

F#, C#

Answer

F#

Answer

C#

Answer

D#

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT a type of musical scale?

Accepted Answer

Hexagon

Answer

Major

Answer

Chromatic

Answer

Pentatonic

Question 44

What is the interval between the first and third notes of the C major scale?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Major second

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Minor third

Question 45

Which type of chord is formed by combining the root, third, and fifth notes of a major scale?

Accepted Answer

Major triad

Answer

Minor triad

Answer

Suspended chord

Answer

Dominant seventh

Question 46

In a common chord progression, which chord usually resolves to the tonic chord?

Accepted Answer

Dominant chord

Answer

Mediant chord

Answer

Subdominant chord

Question 47

Which of the following is a key characteristic of a strong melody?

Accepted Answer

Has a clear direction and shape

Answer

Always written in a major key

Answer

Avoids repetition of notes

Answer

Only uses short, repeated phrases

Question 48

What is the term for a set of notes played together at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Chord

Answer

Scale

Answer

Arpeggio

Answer

Interval

Question 49

What do we call the movement of a melody from one pitch to another?

Accepted Answer

Contour

Answer

Timbre

Answer

Range

Answer

Register

Question 50

What is the term for the lowest note in a chord called?

Accepted Answer

Root

Answer

Seventh

Answer

Fifth

Answer

Third