Basic Music Theory Trivia Quiz

Answer: Subdominant

The fourth scale degree is called the subdominant, from Latin "sub" meaning under, and the dominant, the fifth note of the scale. It is called the subdominant as it is the dominant five degrees under the tonic. The submediant is the 6th note of the scale, and the supertonic is the 2nd.

Answer: Sharps ascending and flats descending.

In any chromatic scale that begins on a sharp or a natural always ascends in sharps or double sharps, and descends in flats or double flats, with the exclusion of the last note which must be the same as the starting note. When writing a chromatic scale on a flat, you may have to use flats or naturals ascending, but should switch to sharps as soon as possible.

Answer: 3 and 4, 6 and 7

The Mixolydian mode has semitones played between the third and fourth degrees, and the 6th and 7th degrees. Semitones occur between 2+3, and 6+7 in the Dorian mode, between 1+2 and 5+6 in the Phrygian mode, and between 4+5 and 7+8 in the Lydian mode.

Answer: Diminished 5th

When you invert an interval, the top note will become the bottom note, and the other will stay the same. For example, the augmented 4th consisting of G# and Cx will become a diminished 5th consisting of G# and the Cx an octave lower. Interestingly, the size of the interval and its inversion are equal to 9.

Answer: 3 Major, 3 Minor and 1 Diminished

A major scale consists of three major triads on the 1st, 4th, and 5th degrees of the scale, three minor triads on the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th degrees of the scale, and one diminished on the 7th note.

Answer: A chord built on any kind of fourth

A quartal chord is a chord built on any kind of fourth, e.g. augmented and perfect, and will have three or more notes. They are mainly used in 20th century music due to the amount of dissonance within the chord.

Answer: Half Cadence

A half cadence ends on the dominant, while perfect authentic, imperfect authentic, and plagal all end on the final-sounding tonic.

Answer: All of them are correct

Hybrid triple time consists of three primary beats per measure. It is split into a group of three, and two groups of two. Alternatively, the groups of two may be seen as a group of four, with one beat "silent", i.e. with a whole note as the second beat, or with one "medium" strength beat.

The upper number in the signature must always be 7, otherwise there is a way to group the notes equally, or with more than three beats.

Answer: Mezzo-Soprano, Counter-Tenor, Tenor, Baritone

A mezzo-soprano is a range between a soprano and an alto. A counter-tenor is the male who has a voice similar in pitch to the alto. The full order of voices from highest to lowest is generally this: Women: Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Contralto Men: Counter-Tenor, Tenor, Baritone, and Bass.

Answer: Viola

The violin uses a treble clef, and the viola uses the alto clef. The cello and double bass both use the bass clef. The tenor clef is also used for the upper ranges of the cello.