music beginner 10 sample questions

Harmony MCQ Practice Test

Chord structures and progressions

Q1. Which of the following chords is an example of a major 7th chord built from the root note G?

Explanation: A major 7th chord is composed of a root note, a major third, a perfect fifth, and a major seventh. The major 7th chord built from the root note G is G - B - D - F#.

Q2. What is the term for a harmony that moves in the opposite direction of the melody, creating a sense of tension?

Explanation: In contrary motion, the harmony moves in the opposite direction of the melody, creating a sense of tension. This type of motion is often used to add interest and complexity to a musical phrase.

Q3. What is the interval between the notes C and the note that is a perfect 5th above C?

Explanation: A perfect 5th interval is the distance between two pitches that is exactly 7 semitones apart. In this case, the note that is a perfect 5th above C is G.

Q4. What is the term for the musical texture in which two or more independent melodies sound simultaneously?

Explanation: Polyphony is the texture of simultaneous independent melodies (think Bach fugues); counterpoint is the compositional technique for writing such lines; homophony is one melody with chordal accompaniment; monophony is a single unaccompanied line.

Q5. Which of the following chords is an example of a “minor” chord with a root note of C, and a major 7th interval?

Explanation: A C minor chord with an added major seventh (Cm(maj7)) is C-Eb-G-B: minor third Eb, perfect fifth G, major seventh B. C-E-G-Bb is C7, C-Eb-G-Bb is Cm7, and C-E-G-B is Cmaj7.

Q6. Which chord progression is a ii-V-I in the key of C major?

Explanation: In C major the second degree is D (Dm7), the fifth is G (G7) and the tonic is C (Cmaj7) — the classic jazz cadence. Each other option is a genuine ii-V-I, but in the keys of D, Eb and F major respectively, not C.

Q7. What is the function of the "3rd" in a major chord?

Explanation: In a major chord, the third is the note that determines the chord's quality. For example, a major third creates a major chord, while a minor third creates a minor chord.

Q8. What is the term for the interval formed by stacking a perfect fifth above a perfect fifth?

Explanation: When a perfect fifth is stacked above another perfect fifth, it forms a major tenth. This is because the interval between the two fifths is a major third, and adding another perfect fifth creates a major tenth.

Q9. Which of the following chords is an example of a "major 7th" chord?

Explanation: A major 7th chord is a type of chord that includes a major seventh. For example, the chord C major 7th is built with the notes C, E, G, and B.

Q10. Which of the following chord progressions is an example of a harmonic progression that uses the ii-V-I progression in a minor key?

Explanation: The ii-V-I progression is a common harmonic progression used in many styles of music. In a minor key, the ii chord is the supertonic chord, the V chord is the dominant chord, and the I chord is the tonic chord. The ii-V-I progression in a minor key would typically use the ii chord as a minor 7th chord, the V chord as a dominant 7th chord, and the I chord as a major 7th chord.

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Harmony MCQ Practice Test | Mind Hustle