wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Music Theory Quiz

Total questions: 55

Worksheet time: 28mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the term 'Tonic' used to refer to in music theory?

a)

The fifth chord or note of a scale

b)

The root or first chord or note of a scale

c)

The third chord or note of a scale

d)

The seventh chord or note of a scale

2.

What does the term 'Dominant' refer to in music theory?

a)

The root or first chord or note of a scale

b)

The third chord or note of a scale

c)

The fifth chord or note of a scale

d)

The seventh chord or note of a scale

3.

To understand the relevance of the tonic and dominant relationship, which period's classical music should you listen to?

a)

1600 to 1700

b)

1700 to 1850

c)

1800 to 1900

d)

1900 to 2000

4.

What is the relationship discussed in the text primarily about?

a)

Harmony and melody

b)

Tension and release

c)

Rhythm and tempo

d)

Dynamics and articulation

5.

What is a prime example of the relationship between tension and release mentioned in the text?

a)

The end of the first movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony

b)

The beginning of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40

c)

The middle section of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto

d)

The finale of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture

6.

According to the text, what did composers of the time often use to round off a piece?

a)

A slow, quiet ending

b)

A big finish with repeated alternations between the dominant and tonic chords

c)

A sudden, unexpected chord

d)

A gradual fade-out

7.

Which notes are included in the C major scale?

a)

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

b)

C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb

c)

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

d)

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

8.

The principles discussed in the tutorial for the C major scale can be applied to which type of scale?

a)

Minor scale

b)

Any major scale

c)

Harmonic scale

d)

Chromatic scale

9.

What does the term 'diatonic' mean in the context of building chords?

a)

Using notes from multiple scales

b)

Using only notes taken from the scale

c)

Using notes from a different key

d)

Using notes from a chromatic scale

10.

What are the diatonic triads for the C major scale?

a)

C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim

b)

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

c)

C, Dm, E, Fm, G, Am, B

d)

C, D, Em, F, Gm, A, Bdim

11.

How are diatonic triads for the C major scale created?

a)

By stacking consecutive notes from the scale

b)

By stacking alternate notes from the scale onto each scale degree

c)

By stacking notes from a different scale

d)

By stacking notes randomly

12.

How are diatonic chords traditionally labelled using Roman numerals?

a)

Upper case for minor chords, lower case for major chords

b)

Upper case for major chords, lower case for minor chords

c)

Upper case for diminished chords, lower case for major chords

d)

Upper case for minor chords, lower case for diminished chords

13.

Which chord is the exception in the diatonic harmonisation of a major scale?

a)

I chord

b)

IV chord

c)

V chord

d)

vii chord

14.

What is the standard pattern for the diatonic harmonisation of a major scale?

a)

I ii iii IV V vi vii°

b)

I iii ii IV V vi vii°

c)

I ii iii V IV vi vii°

d)

I ii iii IV vi V vii°

15.

What is the name given to the first degree of the scale in the diatonic triad?

a)

Tonic

b)

Mediant

c)

Dominant

d)

Subdominant

16.

Which degree of the scale is referred to as the "Dominant" in the diatonic triad?

a)

I

b)

IV

c)

V

d)

vi

17.

What is the specific name for the second degree of the scale in the diatonic triad?

a)

Tonic

b)

Supertonic

c)

Subdominant

d)

Leading Tone

18.

Which degree of the scale is known as the "Leading Tone" in the diatonic triad?

a)

ii

b)

iii

c)

vi

d)

vii°

19.

What does the Tonic refer to in music theory?

a)

The IV chord

b)

The V chord

c)

The I chord

d)

The vi chord

20.

In the key of C major, which chord will all other chords gravitate back towards?

a)

G major

b)

F major

c)

C major

d)

A minor

21.

What is the aural equivalent of home in a musical tune?

a)

The Dominant chord

b)

The Tonic chord

c)

The Subdominant chord

d)

The Mediant chord

22.

Which chord is referred to as the Dominant in diatonic chords?

a)

I chord

b)

IV chord

c)

V chord

d)

vi chord

23.

What is the term used for the movement of the V chord to the I chord to end a phrase?

a)

Imperfect cadence

b)

Plagal cadence

c)

Perfect cadence

d)

Interrupted cadence

24.

What is the progression used in the example to construct an entire track?

a)

CMaj7 and G7

b)

CMaj9 and G7

c)

CMaj9 and G9

d)

CMaj7 and G9

25.

What is the purpose of the expanded voicings in the example?

a)

To simplify the progression

b)

To make it sound like nursery rhymes

c)

To lift it above simple C and G major triads

d)

To make it sound more complex

26.

What is the purpose of adding a few other chords to the progression in the given text?

a)

To make the progression more imaginative

b)

To make the progression simpler

c)

To make the progression faster

d)

To make the progression quieter

27.

In the given text, which chord is resolved to the Tonic with an ear-pleasing perfect cadence?

a)

Subdominant

b)

Dominant

c)

Mediant

d)

Supertonic

28.

What is the purpose of including chords borrowed from the parallel key of C minor in the example?

a)

To create a predictable direction

b)

To add a sense of tension and release

c)

To simplify the musical composition

d)

To maintain the same key throughout

29.

What is the final chord that the example resolves to?

a)

Subdominant

b)

Mediant

c)

Dominant

d)

Supertonic

30.

What is a useful skill in music that helps in defining the key of a piece?

a)

Identifying the tonic dominant relationships

b)

Recognizing the tempo

c)

Understanding the lyrics

d)

Knowing the composer

31.

In the given example, what key does the piece appear to be in?

a)

G major

b)

D minor

c)

C major

d)

A minor

32.

What chord regularly appears before each occurrence of the C major chord in the example?

a)

F major

b)

G major

c)

A minor

d)

E minor

33.

Which chords form two-thirds of a trio of diatonic chords known as the primary chords in any major key?

a)

Tonic and Mediant

b)

Tonic and Dominant

c)

Subdominant and Leading Tone

d)

Mediant and Submediant

34.

What is the third member of the trio of primary chords known as?

a)

Mediant

b)

Leading Tone

c)

Subdominant

d)

Submediant

35.

Why is the Subdominant chord not named for its position in the scale order?

a)

It sits one above the Dominant degree

b)

It sits one below the Dominant degree

c)

It sits two below the Dominant degree

d)

It sits two above the Dominant degree

36.

What interval do you count down the keyboard from the Tonic to reach the Subdominant?

a)

Perfect fourth

b)

Perfect fifth

c)

Major third

d)

Minor third

37.

In the key of C major, what note is the Subdominant?

a)

G

b)

A

c)

F

d)

E

38.

Which three primary chords form the cornerstone of western music?

a)

Tonic, Mediant, Submediant

b)

Tonic, Subdominant, Dominant

c)

Tonic, Supertonic, Leading Tone

d)

Tonic, Submediant, Leading Tone

39.

What is one of the possible solutions for harmonising a chromatic melody?

a)

Using secondary dominant chords

b)

Using primary dominant chords

c)

Using tonic chords

d)

Using leading tone chords

40.

What is a secondary dominant chord?

a)

A diatonic chord that resolves to the tonic

b)

A non-diatonic, dominant chord that resolves to any diatonic chord other than the tonic or leading tone

c)

A chord based on the first degree of the scale

d)

A chord based on the seventh degree of the scale

41.

Which chord is based on the first degree of the scale?

a)

The leading tone

b)

The secondary dominant

c)

The tonic

d)

The subdominant

42.

Which chord is based on the seventh degree of the scale?

a)

The tonic

b)

The subdominant

c)

The secondary dominant

d)

The leading tone

43.

What is a secondary dominant in the context of diatonic chords?

a)

The tonic of any chord in the diatonic set

b)

The dominant of the tonic chord

c)

The dominant of any other chord in the diatonic set

d)

The subdominant of any chord in the diatonic set

44.

What is the process called when a secondary dominant makes a chord sound like the tonic?

a)

Modulation

b)

Tonalization

c)

Tonal shift

d)

Tonicization

45.

What can secondary dominants do when used in a chord progression?

a)

Set up a keychange or add interest to the progression

b)

Resolve the progression to the tonic

c)

Create dissonance in the progression

d)

Simplify the chord progression

46.

What is the tonic or root note of the C major scale?

a)

G

b)

C

c)

F

d)

B

47.

In the C major scale, which degree is known as the dominant?

a)

I

b)

IV

c)

V

d)

VII

48.

How many notes are there in the C major scale?

a)

5

b)

6

c)

7

d)

8

49.

Which note corresponds to the fifth degree in the C major scale?

a)

C

b)

E

c)

G

d)

B

50.

What is required to harmonize a major scale?

a)

Stack up alternate notes on each degree of the scale to form three-note chords or triads.

b)

Play all notes simultaneously.

c)

Use only the root notes of the scale.

d)

Play the scale in reverse order.

51.

Which chords are produced by harmonizing the C major scale?

a)

C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim

b)

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

c)

C, Dm, E, Fm, G, Am, B

d)

C, D, Em, F, Gm, A, Bdim

52.

What is a good way to expand the relatively small palette of chords when writing?

a)

Using secondary dominants

b)

Using only primary chords

c)

Playing the chords in reverse

d)

Doubling the root notes

53.

In any given key, what is the I chord called?

a)

Dominant

b)

Subdominant

c)

Tonic

d)

Mediant

54.

In the key of C major, what is the dominant V chord?

a)

C major

b)

D minor

c)

F major

d)

G major

55.

What is the move from the tension of the G chord to the release of the C chord known as?

a)

Imperfect cadence

b)

Plagal cadence

c)

Perfect cadence

d)

Interrupted cadence