Music Theory Answers - Mrhs Bands printable pdf download

Music Theory Answers - Mrhs Bands

Music Theory Study Guide

All music notation is based on the layout of notes on the piano keyboard. What pitch is the piano

keyboard based on? ___C___

Tonal music can be defined as music that is based on scales and chords with defined relationships.

All western tonal music theory is based on the C major scale.

A single key signature can contain both sharps and flats.

True

False

Notes that are marked with sharps, flats or naturals that are not in the key signature are called accidentals

Accidentals are carried through the measure they are in.

What might indicate that the tonal center or key of a piece is changing?

Accidentals start to appear consistently or the composer writes in a key change

Minor scales have up to 3 lowered pitches as compared to major scales. What is the scale degree that

must be lowered for a piece to sound minor? 3 or 3rd

Because our ears hear major keys as a default, what two pitches determine whether a passage sounds

minor? How are these pitches changed?

The 3

must be lowered and 7

is usually natural or raised from the minor 7

What is the 7

degree of a major scale called? The leading tone

Between what scale degrees do half steps appear in a major scale?

Between 3-4 and 7-8

Between what scale degrees do half steps appear in a minor scale?

Between 2-3 and 5-6

A harmonic minor scale is performed by raising which pitch of the natural minor? 7

The vertical distances between notes are called intervals

The horizontal distances between notes are called steps

What are the steps between notes of a major scale? WWHWWWH

What are the steps between notes of a natural minor scale? WHWWHWW

What is the minimum amount of notes needed to make a chord? 2

What is the most commonly used minor scale form in composition? Natural or Harmonic

The home key, note, or chord that a piece of music is based upon is usually called the Tonic

The fourth note of the tonic scale is called the Subdominant

Music Theory Answers - Mrhs Bands