Music Theory Quiz

What is the term for the steady pulse that underlies most music?

• Beat

• Tempo

• Rhythm

• Meter

Which Italian term indicates a very fast tempo?

• Presto

• Allegro

• Moderato

• Andante

What is the term for a three-note chord consisting of two intervals of a third?

• Triad

• Tritone

• Diatonic

• Polyrhythm

Which chord is considered the most stable in a key?

• Tonic

• Dominant

• Subdominant

• Leading Tone

What is the term for the quality of a pitch, interval, or chord that makes it seem unstable or tense?

• Dissonance

• Consonance

• Resolution

• Syncopation

Which interval is known as the tritone?

• Augmented fourth

• Perfect fifth

• Major third

• Minor sixth

What is the term for chords or intervals that move from tension towards resolution?

• Harmonic progression

• Polyrhythm

• Syncopation

• Meter

Which term describes the pattern of emphasis superimposed on groups of beats?

• Meter

• Tempo

• Beat

• Rhythm

What is the term for chords or melodies that use only the pitches within the key?

• Diatonic

• Chromatic

• Tonic

• Harmonic

Which scale degree is the leading tone in a major key?

• 7th

• 1st

• 4th

• 5th