Music Theory for Ninth Graders: Master the Building Blocks of Music

Question 1

Which interval consists of two semitones (half steps)?

Accepted Answer

Minor second

Answer

Major second

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major third

Question 2

In the key of C major, which chord is a major triad?

Accepted Answer

C major triad (C - E - G)

Answer

C minor triad (C - Eb - G)

Answer

C augmented triad (C - E - G#)

Answer

C diminished triad (C - Eb - Gb)

Question 3

Which cadence provides the strongest sense of resolution?

Accepted Answer

Perfect authentic cadence (V - I)

Answer

Imperfect authentic cadence (IV - I)

Answer

Plagal cadence (IV - I)

Answer

Deceptive cadence (V - VI)

Question 4

The root of a scale is the note that:

Accepted Answer

Acts as the tonal center

Answer

Is the highest note in the scale

Answer

Is the lowest note in the scale

Answer

Determines the key signature

Question 5

Which note name is NOT found in the key of F# major?

Accepted Answer

Eb

Answer

C#

Answer

G#

Answer

D#

Question 6

Identify the major triad:

Accepted Answer

C, E, G

Answer

C, Eb, G

Answer

C, F, G

Answer

C, E, A

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a type of musical scale?

Accepted Answer

Arpeggio

Answer

Major

Answer

Minor

Answer

Chromatic

Question 8

What is the interval created between the first and fifth notes of the C major scale?

Accepted Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Question 9

Which of the following is a triad, a chord containing only three notes?

Accepted Answer

C major

Answer

C augmented

Answer

C dominant 7

Answer

C minor 7b5

Question 10

What is the name of the scale that contains all 12 chromatic notes, without any repeated notes?

Accepted Answer

Chromatic scale

Answer

Whole tone scale

Answer

Half tone scale

Answer

Diminished scale

Question 11

Which of the following is a characteristic of a major chord, contributing to its bright and uplifting sound?

Accepted Answer

Contains a major third

Answer

Contains a minor third

Answer

Contains a diminished fifth

Answer

Contains an augmented fifth

Question 12

Which of the following intervals can change its quality, being either consonant or dissonant depending on its context?

Accepted Answer

Tritone

Answer

Major seventh

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Question 13

What is the root note of the A minor chord, which determines its fundamental pitch and identity?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

G

Answer

G sharp

Answer

A sharp

Question 14

In a major scale, which chord is a major triad built on the third scale degree?

Accepted Answer

E major

Answer

C major

Answer

E minor

Answer

G minor

Question 15

The root of a C major triad is:

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

E

Answer

G

Answer

B

Question 16

Which of the following cadences typically resolves to a tonic chord?

Accepted Answer

Authentic

Answer

Plagal

Answer

Deceptive

Answer

Interrupted

Question 17

Which of the following intervals is considered dissonant?

Accepted Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Major second

Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major ninth

Question 18

Which chord is built on the 5th scale degree in the key of C major?

Accepted Answer

G dominant seventh

Answer

C major

Answer

G minor

Answer

F augmented

Question 19

Which type of cadence involves a progression from a dominant chord to a tonic chord?

Accepted Answer

Authentic

Answer

Plagal

Answer

Deceptive

Answer

Interrupted

Question 20

In music theory, what is the term for the distance between two adjacent notes on a piano keyboard?

Accepted Answer

Half step

Answer

Whole step

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major second

Question 21

Which type of chord is composed of the notes C, E, and G?

Accepted Answer

Major triad

Answer

Minor triad

Answer

Dominant seventh chord

Answer

Diminished triad

Question 22

The scale that starts on the note C and consists of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Major scale

Answer

Minor scale

Answer

Chromatic scale

Answer

Pentatonic scale

Question 23

Which type of cadence resolves to the tonic chord, creating a sense of closure?

Accepted Answer

Perfect cadence

Answer

Plagal cadence

Answer

Deceptive cadence

Answer

Half cadence

Question 24

What is the process of writing music in a standard notation system called?

Accepted Answer

Transcription

Answer

Composition

Answer

Arrangement

Answer

Instrumentation

Question 25

Which of these symbols is used to indicate a sharp note in musical notation?

Accepted Answer

#

Answer

b

Answer

♮

Answer

x

Question 26

A measure with four beats, where a quarter note receives one beat, is in what time signature?

Accepted Answer

4/4 time signature

Answer

3/4 time signature

Answer

2/4 time signature

Answer

6/8 time signature

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Baroque music?

Accepted Answer

Use of modern instrumentation

Answer

Use of polyphony

Answer

Emphasis on melody

Answer

Ornate ornamentation

Question 28

Identify the interval created between the notes C and E.

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Diminished fifth

Question 29

Which of these is an example of a triad chord?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

Maj7

Answer

m7b5

Answer

Cmaj9

Question 30

What is the primary purpose of a dominant cadence?

Accepted Answer

To provide a sense of resolution

Answer

To create tension

Answer

To introduce a new key

Answer

To modulate to a different key

Question 31

Which characteristic is unique to atonal music?

Accepted Answer

Absence of a tonal center

Answer

Use of traditional harmonies

Answer

Focus on melodic development

Answer

Consonant intervals

Question 32

What is the main function of a key signature?

Accepted Answer

To specify the accidentals used

Answer

To indicate the key of the piece

Answer

To suggest fingerings

Answer

To indicate the time signature

Question 33

Identify the interval known as a semitone.

Accepted Answer

From C to C#

Answer

From C to D

Answer

From C to E

Answer

From C to G

Question 34

Which modulation technique involves moving directly to a new key?

Accepted Answer

Direct modulation

Answer

Parallel modulation

Answer

Chromatic modulation

Answer

Enharmonic modulation

Question 35

What is the interval between the notes G and C?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Perfect fifth

Question 36

Which of the following is an example of a triad?

Accepted Answer

C, E, G

Answer

C, D, G

Answer

C, D, E, G

Answer

C, D, E, F

Question 37

In a major scale, on which scale degree is the subdominant triad built?

Accepted Answer

Subdominant

Answer

Tonic

Answer

Mediant

Answer

Dominant

Question 38

Which of the following is an example of a descending melodic minor scale?

Accepted Answer

C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb

Answer

C, D, E, F, G, A, B

Answer

C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb

Answer

C, D, E, F, G, A#, B

Question 39

Which interval exists between the first and third notes of a major scale?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major second

Answer

Perfect fourth

Question 40

Identify the major triad among the given options:

Accepted Answer

C-E-G

Answer

C-Eb-G

Answer

C-D-G

Answer

C-Eb-F

Question 41

Which cadence concludes on the tonic chord?

Accepted Answer

Authentic cadence

Answer

Deceptive cadence

Answer

Plagal cadence

Answer

Half cadence

Question 42

Which chromatic scale starts on the note C?

Accepted Answer

C chromatic scale

Answer

A chromatic scale

Answer

G chromatic scale

Question 43

Identify the dissonant interval among the following:

Accepted Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor second

Question 44

Which cadence is a perfect authentic cadence?

Accepted Answer

V-I

Answer

II-V

Answer

IV-V

Answer

VI-V

Question 45

What is a characteristic of a minor scale?

Accepted Answer

The third scale degree is a minor third above the tonic.

Answer

The fifth scale degree is a diminished fifth above the tonic.

Answer

The second scale degree is a perfect second above the tonic.

Answer

The seventh scale degree is a major seventh above the tonic.

Question 46

A chord consisting of a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth is called a:

Accepted Answer

Major chord

Answer

Augmented chord

Answer

Minor chord

Answer

Diminished chord

Question 47

In a four-part harmony, what is the common position of the bass note?

Accepted Answer

Root

Answer

Seventh

Answer

Fifth

Answer

Third

Question 48

Which of the following is an example of a perfect cadence?

Accepted Answer

V - I

Answer

IV - V

Answer

I - IV

Answer

II - V

Question 49

What is the key signature of a piece in G major?

Accepted Answer

One sharp (F sharp)

Answer

No sharps or flats

Answer

Three sharps

Answer

Two flats

Question 50

A dotted half note receives how many beats in 4/4 time?

Accepted Answer

Three

Answer

Two

Answer

One

Answer

Four

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT a common chord progression?

Accepted Answer

I - II - III - IV

Answer

IV - I - V

Answer

I - IV - V - I

Answer

II - V - I