Pitch and Melody: Master the Fundamentals of Music

Question 1

What is the main function of the tonic in a melody?

Accepted Answer

It provides a sense of stability and resolution.

Answer

It is the loudest note in the melody.

Answer

It is the first note of the melody.

Answer

It occurs most frequently in the melody.

Question 2

Which of the following symbols is used in musical notation to indicate a flat?

Accepted Answer

♭

Answer

#

Answer

b

Answer

♮

Question 3

Which of the following is a typical characteristic of a strong melodic cadence?

Accepted Answer

Resolves to the tonic.

Answer

Ends on a dissonant interval.

Answer

Uses a wide leap in the melody.

Answer

Contains a syncopated rhythm.

Question 4

What is the name of the scale that uses only five different notes?

Accepted Answer

Pentatonic scale

Answer

Chromatic scale

Answer

Whole-tone scale

Answer

Blues scale

Question 5

What is the interval between the notes C and E?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Tritone

Question 6

Which of the following melodic contours describes a gradual rise followed by a gradual fall?

Accepted Answer

Melodic arc

Answer

Arpeggio

Answer

Diatonic scale

Answer

Chromatic scale

Question 7

What is the frequency of a note that is an octave above A440?

Accepted Answer

880 Hz

Answer

220 Hz

Answer

440 Hz

Answer

1760 Hz

Question 8

Which of the following scales follows the interval sequence: Whole step, Whole step, Half step, Whole step, Whole step, Whole step, Half step?

Accepted Answer

Major scale

Answer

Minor scale

Answer

Pentatonic scale

Answer

Chromatic scale

Question 9

What is the term for a melody that primarily moves by step?

Accepted Answer

Conjunct

Answer

Disjunct

Answer

Chromatic

Answer

Diatonic

Question 10

Which characteristic is NOT found in a diatonic scale?

Accepted Answer

Employs all 12 notes of the chromatic scale

Answer

Contains only whole and half steps

Answer

Exhibits a consistent interval pattern

Answer

Serves as the basis for much of Western music

Question 11

How does a sharp differ from a flat?

Accepted Answer

A sharp raises the pitch by a semitone, while a flat lowers it by a semitone

Answer

A flat raises the pitch by a semitone, while a sharp lowers it by a semitone

Answer

A sharp and a flat have the same effect on pitch

Answer

A sharp raises the pitch by a whole tone, while a flat lowers it by a whole tone

Question 12

What is the term for a melody that is centered around a single pitch?

Accepted Answer

Drone

Answer

Ostinato

Answer

Repetition

Answer

Sequence

Question 13

Which interval spans the greatest number of semitones?

Accepted Answer

Octave

Answer

Minor second

Answer

Major third

Answer

Perfect fifth

Question 14

Which of the following sequences correctly orders musical intervals from smallest to largest?

Accepted Answer

Semitone, Tone, Minor Third, Major Third

Answer

Major Third, Minor Third, Tone, Semitone

Question 15

What musical term describes a series of notes that move in a stepwise progression?

Accepted Answer

Scale

Answer

Arpeggio

Answer

Glissando

Answer

Trill

Question 16

Which of the following melodic contours conveys a sense of tension?

Accepted Answer

Angular

Answer

Ascending

Answer

Descending

Answer

Curvilinear

Question 17

What is the term for the highest vocal pitch in a standard vocal range?

Accepted Answer

Soprano

Answer

Alto

Answer

Tenor

Answer

Bass

Question 18

Which of the following factors does NOT influence the perception of pitch?

Accepted Answer

Duration

Answer

Frequency

Answer

Timbre

Answer

Loudness

Question 19

What is the term for the repetition of a melodic pattern at a different pitch level?

Accepted Answer

Transposition

Answer

Variation

Answer

Imitation

Answer

Canon

Question 20

What is the interval that spans eight notes in the chromatic scale called?

Accepted Answer

Octave

Answer

Minor Seventh

Answer

Major Ninth

Answer

Tritone

Question 21

Which of the following symbols indicates a sharp in Western music notation?

Accepted Answer

♯

Answer

♮

Answer

↓

Answer

♭

Question 22

Identify the interval between the note C and the note G.

Accepted Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor sixth

Answer

Augmented fourth

Question 23

Which of the following terms best describes a melody that gradually rises and then falls?

Accepted Answer

Arch

Answer

Leap

Answer

Zigzag

Answer

Step

Question 24

Which of the following is an example of a major scale?

Accepted Answer

C major

Answer

Dorian

Answer

Lydian

Answer

C minor

Question 25

What is the relationship between a whole tone and a semitone in Western music theory?

Accepted Answer

A whole tone consists of two semitones

Answer

A whole tone is half of a semitone

Answer

A semitone consists of two whole tones

Question 26

What is the correct order of notes in a major triad?

Accepted Answer

Root, major third, perfect fifth

Answer

Root, minor third, diminished fifth

Answer

Root, major third, augmented fifth

Answer

Root, minor third, perfect fifth

Question 27

Which of the following characteristics is commonly found in modal music?

Accepted Answer

The use of scales with different intervals compared to major and minor scales

Answer

Frequent use of modulation

Answer

Exclusive use of major and minor scales