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Masters of Musical Literacy Trivia Quiz

The laws of music are bound by many theoretical factors. Although music theory can seem dull and pointless even to the most adept musicians, It can be startlingly useful and even thrilling! Test your knowledge of musical literature here!

A multiple-choice quiz by squallen. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
squallen

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
316,830

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2072

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. It is possible to work out the notes of any named musical scale or mode based on music theory.
What is the correct formula for deciphering the notes of any Major scale, starting with the first note of the scale, where T1/2= a tone and a half, T= a tone, and S= a semitone? Hint

T,S,T,T,S,T,T

T,T,S,T,T,T,S

T1/2,T,S,T,T,T1/2

T,T,S,T,T,S,T

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Every key signature can refer in particular to two scales, the major scale and its relative minor. What is the relative minor key for Db major? Hint

Abm

Bbm

Ebm

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Tonicization is when a pitch varying from the overall tonic is used temporarily as the tonal centre. What exactly is a tonicized chord? Hint

A chord that is played straight after a secondary dominant chord

A chord that is neither major nor minor

A chord that initiates a modulation

A chord that acts as a pivot chord for a following modulation

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Question 4 of 10

4. Sometimes in a score a dot can appear above (or below) the note heads. This method of playing notes is called staccato. How might a musician play a staccato note?
Hint

By slowing the individual note down significantly

By accenting the note

By whacking the instrument at the same time as playing the note

By abruptly cutting off the note's full resonation

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Question 5 of 10

5. There are tons of different chords in music, all with very specific names pertaining to the notes they possess. These names can be worked out logically.
What would be the most accurate name for an A chord consisting of the notes A, B, and Eb?
Hint

Aaug

A7aug

AmMaj7

Asus2dim

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. By which other name might the the Phrygian dominant scale known? Hint

Heptatonia Prima

Flamenco scale

Arabic scale

Gypsy scale

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What would the instruction 'Vivacissimo' be telling the musician to do? Hint

Play very fast and sombrely

Play moderately and sombrely

Play moderately and lively

Play very fast and lively

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Question 8 of 10

8. Some time signatures can be used for reasons that deviate from merely indicating beats per bar and the type of beat. The most elementary of these is 8/8 time, but why might this time signature differ so much from others such as 4/4 and 2/4?
Hint

Because there is an emphasis on beats 1 and 3 and 7

Because it is played twice as fast

Because the beats can be divided into 3 groups

Because it is played legato

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Question 9 of 10

9. A semi-quaver is the British name for the American sixteenth note.
What is the British name for the American hundred twenty-eighth note? Hint

Manihemidemisemiquaver

Quasihemidemisemiquaver

Quatrohemidemisemiquaver

Femihemidemisemiquaver

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Question 10 of 10

10. The note heads used on manuscript derived from a system of notation known as 'Neumes' around the year 600 AD. What sort of music would have been written using neumes? Hint

Gregorian chant

Roman march music

African tribal dance

Maximus Operandi

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. It is possible to work out the notes of any named musical scale or mode based on music theory. What is the correct formula for deciphering the notes of any Major scale, starting with the first note of the scale, where T1/2= a tone and a half, T= a tone, and S= a semitone?

Answer: T,T,S,T,T,T,S

The best example is the C major scale which contains no sharps or flats, and is therefore much easier to visualize on a piano.

2. Every key signature can refer in particular to two scales, the major scale and its relative minor. What is the relative minor key for Db major?

Answer: Bbm

It is simple to work out the relative minor for any major key - the relative minor is three semitones below the major key.

3. Tonicization is when a pitch varying from the overall tonic is used temporarily as the tonal centre. What exactly is a tonicized chord?

Answer: A chord that is played straight after a secondary dominant chord

A tonicized chord is simply the chord progressed to after a secondary dominant chord, and would only be either major or minor. If a chord is used as the tonic for quite some time, only then MIGHT it be considered a modulation.

4. Sometimes in a score a dot can appear above (or below) the note heads. This method of playing notes is called staccato. How might a musician play a staccato note?

Answer: By abruptly cutting off the note's full resonation

Staccato literally means "detached" in Italian, and tells the player to make the note sound distinctly separate from others.

5. There are tons of different chords in music, all with very specific names pertaining to the notes they possess. These names can be worked out logically. What would be the most accurate name for an A chord consisting of the notes A, B, and Eb?

Answer: Asus2dim

Asus2dim - First, look at the regular triad of A minor, which consists of the notes A, C, and E.
The sus2 element of it means that the '3rd' (working from the root - a,b,C) has been altered by flattening it, thus changing it from C to B, and therefore it becomes a 'sustained' 2nd instead of a 3rd. And dim, short for 'diminished', means that the 5th has been altered, also by flattening it, hence changing the note from E to Eb in this case. The root note A is the only note remaining the same as that of the regular triad.

6. By which other name might the the Phrygian dominant scale known?

Answer: Gypsy scale

Deriving from the Phrygian mode, the Phrygian dominant scale raises the 3rd by a semitone. It also goes by the name of Spanish Phrygian, the Hebrew scale and the Gypsy scale to name but a few. It has been widely used in many genres of music such as Jewish music, Flemenco, Jazz and Progressive rock.

7. What would the instruction 'Vivacissimo' be telling the musician to do?

Answer: Play very fast and lively

Vivaciously and vigorously, a conductor beating this tempo would probably be kept on their toes!

Answer: Because the beats can be divided into 3 groups

8/8 is what is known as an additive meter, where the beats can be divided into groups. This time signature might also be called(3+2+3)/8 time.

9. A semi-quaver is the British name for the American sixteenth note. What is the British name for the American hundred twenty-eighth note?

Answer: Quasihemidemisemiquaver

The quasihemidemisemiquaver is 1/32 of a whole crotchet beat (or quarter note).

10. The note heads used on manuscript derived from a system of notation known as 'Neumes' around the year 600 AD. What sort of music would have been written using neumes?

Answer: Gregorian chant

Gregorian chant was named for Pope Gregory I. It was sung at the Roman Catholic services as early as 590 AD.

Source: Author squallen

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