Chords and Harmony: Master the Basics of Music Theory

Question 1

Which interval within a chord contributes the most to its consonance?

Accepted Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major seventh

Answer

Minor second

Answer

Tritone

Question 2

What is the primary structural difference between a major chord and a minor chord?

Accepted Answer

The size of the third interval

Answer

The presence or absence of a seventh

Answer

The inversion of the root note

Answer

The type of scale from which they are derived

Question 3

Which of the following chords would be considered dissonant due to the presence of a tritone interval?

Accepted Answer

G7

Answer

C major

Answer

D minor

Answer

Am7

Question 4

What is the primary function of a cadence in musical composition?

Accepted Answer

To provide a sense of closure or resolution

Answer

To introduce a new key

Answer

To establish a tempo

Answer

To create a sense of anticipation

Question 5

What is the primary purpose of voice leading in chord progressions?

Accepted Answer

To ensure smooth transitions between chords

Answer

To create dissonant effects

Answer

To emphasize certain notes in the melody

Answer

To avoid parallel fifths and octaves

Question 6

What is the distinguishing feature of a suspended chord compared to a regular triad?

Accepted Answer

It has a delayed third

Answer

It has a delayed fifth

Answer

It has a lower root

Answer

It has a different inversion

Question 7

Which type of seventh chord resolves to a major triad?

Accepted Answer

Dominant seventh

Answer

Major seventh

Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Half-diminished seventh

Question 8

The interval between the root and the highest note in a triad is called the:

Accepted Answer

Fifth

Answer

Third

Answer

Octave

Answer

Major second

Question 9

The root position of a chord is when:

Accepted Answer

The root is in the bass

Answer

The third is in the bass

Answer

The fifth is in the bass

Answer

The seventh is in the bass

Question 10

Which of the following scales is commonly associated with major seventh chords?

Accepted Answer

Major scale

Answer

Minor scale

Answer

Harmonic minor scale

Answer

Melodic minor scale

Question 11

A sus4 chord is a triad with the:

Accepted Answer

Fourth raised by a half step

Answer

Fifth lowered by a half step

Answer

Third raised by a whole step

Answer

Seventh added

Question 12

Which of the following chord progressions is typically used to end a piece of music?

Accepted Answer

V-I

Answer

I-IV-V

Answer

I-VI-IV-V

Answer

II-V-I

Question 13

Which of these is NOT a type of chord inversion?

Accepted Answer

Root position

Answer

First inversion

Answer

Second inversion

Answer

Third inversion

Question 14

The fundamental note of a chord is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Root note

Answer

Top note

Answer

Middle note

Answer

Bass note

Question 15

Which of the following describes a characteristic of major chords?

Accepted Answer

They sound bright and cheerful

Answer

They sound dark and somber

Answer

They sound dissonant and unpleasant

Answer

They sound ambiguous and unresolved

Question 16

In music, the term 'inversion' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Rearranging the order of notes in a chord

Answer

Changing the key of a chord

Answer

Adding or removing notes from a chord

Answer

Altering the rhythm of a chord

Question 17

The 'circle of fifths' is a graphical representation of:

Accepted Answer

The relationships between different keys

Answer

The intervals between different notes

Answer

The different types of chords

Answer

The history of music theory

Question 18

Which of the following intervals is the most dissonant?

Accepted Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Perfect unison

Answer

Major second

Answer

Perfect octave

Question 19

The key signature of a piece of music indicates:

Accepted Answer

The key in which the piece is written

Answer

The tempo of the piece

Answer

The instrumentation of the piece

Answer

The time signature of the piece

Question 20

Which of the following is **not** a type of chord inversion?

Accepted Answer

Fourth inversion

Answer

Root position

Answer

First inversion

Answer

Second inversion

Question 21

What is the interval between the root and the third in a **minor** chord?

Accepted Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Augmented fourth

Question 22

Which of the following chords is a **dominant seventh** chord?

Accepted Answer

G7

Answer

G major

Answer

C minor

Answer

F#m7

Question 23

What is the harmonic function of a **tonic** chord?

Accepted Answer

Creates stability

Answer

Resolves tension

Answer

Provides contrast

Answer

Introduces new material

Question 24

Which of the following is an example of a **modulation**?

Accepted Answer

Changing key within a piece

Answer

Changing from major to minor

Answer

Adding a new instrument to a composition

Answer

Repeating a section of music

Question 25

Which note is the root of a C major chord?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

E

Answer

G

Answer

B

Question 26

Which of the following is a minor chord?

Accepted Answer

G minor

Answer

C major

Answer

D major

Answer

F# major

Question 27

What is the role of the tonic chord in a chord progression?

Accepted Answer

Provides stability and resolution

Answer

Adds tension and movement

Answer

Introduces new melodic material

Answer

Establishes the key of the music

Question 28

What is the name for a chord that contains the root, third, fifth, and seventh scale degrees?

Accepted Answer

Seventh chord

Answer

Triad

Answer

Extended chord

Answer

Cluster chord

Question 29

What is the difference between parallel and contrary motion in chord progressions?

Accepted Answer

In parallel motion, the chords move in the same direction; in contrary motion, they move in opposite directions

Answer

In parallel motion, the chords move in opposite directions; in contrary motion, they move in the same direction

Answer

In parallel motion, the chords move in different inversions; in contrary motion, they move in the same inversion

Answer

In parallel motion, the chords have the same root; in contrary motion, they have different roots

Question 30

Which interval between the root and the third note creates a major chord?

Accepted Answer

Major 3rd

Answer

Minor 2nd

Answer

Minor 3rd

Answer

Perfect 4th

Question 31

What is the name of the three-note chord consisting of the root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th?

Accepted Answer

Major triad

Answer

Minor triad

Answer

Dominant 7th chord

Answer

Suspended 2nd chord

Question 32

Which of the following is not a method for identifying an inverted chord?

Accepted Answer

Counting the number of notes in the chord

Answer

Finding the lowest note

Answer

Determining the interval between the lowest and highest notes

Answer

Examining the melodic movement of the bass line

Question 33

Which of the following chords would most naturally resolve to a C major chord?

Accepted Answer

G major

Answer

A minor

Answer

F major

Answer

D minor

Question 34

What is the name of the extended chord that includes a 7th interval above the root?

Accepted Answer

7th chord

Answer

9th chord

Answer

11th chord

Answer

13th chord

Question 35

What is the characteristic interval that distinguishes a major 7th chord from a dominant 7th chord?

Accepted Answer

Major 7th

Answer

Minor 2nd

Answer

Major 3rd

Answer

Perfect 4th

Question 36

Which of the following is not a common voicing for a triad?

Accepted Answer

Fourth inversion

Answer

Root position

Answer

First inversion

Answer

Second inversion

Question 37

Which of the following is an example of a major triad chord?

Accepted Answer

C-E-G

Answer

C-Eb-G

Answer

C-E-G#

Answer

C-F-G

Question 38

What is the root note of the chord A-C#-E?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

C#

Answer

E

Answer

B

Question 39

Which of the following intervals creates a dissonant sound?

Accepted Answer

Tritone

Answer

Perfect unison

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect octave

Question 40

What is the difference between a half step and a whole step?

Accepted Answer

A half step is a semitone, while a whole step is a tone.

Answer

A half step is one note, while a whole step is two notes.

Answer

A half step is two notes, while a whole step is one note.

Answer

There is no difference between a half step and a whole step.

Question 41

Which of the following chords is a dominant seventh chord?

Accepted Answer

C7

Answer

Cmaj7

Answer

Cmin7

Answer

Cdim7

Question 42

What is the primary purpose of chord analysis?

Accepted Answer

To understand the structure and function of chords

Answer

To improve sight-reading skills

Answer

To enhance improvisation abilities

Answer

To prepare for music theory exams

Question 43

Which of the following is not a type of triad chord?

Accepted Answer

Sus4

Answer

Major

Answer

Minor

Answer

Augmented

Question 44

What is the fundamental tone of a C major chord?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

A

Answer

E

Answer

G

Question 45

Which of the following intervals produces a dissonant sound?

Accepted Answer

Minor second

Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Question 46

What is the cadence that occurs when the dominant chord resolves to the tonic chord?

Accepted Answer

Authentic cadence

Answer

Plagal cadence

Answer

Half cadence

Answer

Deceptive cadence

Question 47

What interval is formed between the root and the third of a minor chord?

Accepted Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major second

Answer

Major third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Question 48

Which chord progression effectively creates a sense of tension and resolution?

Accepted Answer

I - vi - IV - V

Answer

I - IV - V

Answer

I - IV - vi

Answer

V - I - IV

Question 49

Which chord type is characterized by an augmented interval between the root and the third?

Accepted Answer

Augmented triad

Answer

Major triad

Answer

Minor triad

Answer

Diminished triad

Question 50

Which of the following describes parallel harmony?

Accepted Answer

All voices move in the same direction

Answer

All voices move in opposite directions

Answer

Some voices move in the same direction, while others move in opposite directions

Answer

The bass line moves independently from the other voices

Question 51

Which interval is the foundation of a major chord?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Perfect octave

Question 52

Which type of chord is built by stacking thirds on top of a root note?

Accepted Answer

Triad

Answer

Seventh chord

Answer

Ninth chord

Answer

Suspended chord

Question 53

In a key, the tonic chord is usually a:

Accepted Answer

Major chord built on the first scale degree

Answer

Minor chord built on the sixth scale degree

Answer

Dominant seventh chord built on the fifth scale degree

Answer

Diminished chord built on the seventh scale degree

Question 54

A chord chart usually shows the:

Accepted Answer

Root note, chord type, and inversion

Answer

Chord name, scale degree, and key

Answer

Fingerings, strumming pattern, and tempo

Answer

Harmonic function, melodic contour, and rhythmic pattern

Question 55

A chord that is built on the root note, a third, and a fifth is called a:

Accepted Answer

Triad

Answer

Seventh chord

Answer

Ninth chord

Answer

Suspended chord

Question 56

The interval between the root and the third in a major triad is:

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Minor sixth

Question 57

The root of a chord is the:

Accepted Answer

Lowest note

Answer

Highest note

Answer

Middle note

Answer

Any note within the chord

Question 58

A chord inversion occurs when:

Accepted Answer

The root is not the lowest note

Answer

The third is the highest note

Answer

The fifth is in the middle

Answer

The chord is played backward

Question 59

Which of the following keys has the most sharps in its key signature?

Accepted Answer

F# major

Answer

D major

Answer

G major

Answer

C# major

Question 60

The tonic chord in a major key is:

Accepted Answer

The first chord

Answer

The fifth chord

Answer

The third chord

Answer

The seventh chord