Music Theory Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. In tonal harmony, what cadence family is defined by dominant-to-tonic motion, written V–I?
Plagal cadence
Half cadence
Authentic cadence
Deceptive cadence
2. How many eighth-note beats equal the duration of a dotted quarter note?
Two
Three
Four
Six
3. A songwriter emphasizes weak beats and notes between the main beats. Which rhythmic concept is being used?
Rubato
Augmentation
Polyrhythm
Syncopation
4. A passage is marked with a crescendo. How should its volume change?
It should gradually become slower
It should gradually become louder
It should gradually become faster
It should immediately become soft
5. Which chord sequence represents ii–V–I in C major?
D minor–G major–C major
D major–G minor–C major
F major–G major–A minor
A minor–D minor–G major
6. What is the relative minor key of C major?
E minor
C minor
A minor
D minor
7. A melody beginning on C is transposed upward by one whole step. What is its new starting note?
C-sharp
E-flat
D
B
8. A song is written in 4/4 time. How many eighth notes would exactly fill one complete measure?
Four
Twelve
Six
Eight
9. Which note arrangement is a first-inversion C major triad?
C–E–G
G–C–E
C–E-flat–G
E–G–C
10. A song is in 6/8 time and follows the usual compound-meter grouping. How are its eighth notes typically organized?
Two groups of three
Six equally accented beats
Three groups of two
One group of four and one group of two
11. A musician plays C, E, and G together. Which chord is formed?
C major triad
C minor triad
E minor triad
G major triad
12. A melody uses the G major scale. Which note must normally be sharpened?
C
F
B
G
13. What is the interval from C up to G?
Perfect fourth
Major fifth
Perfect fifth
Major sixth
14. An F-sharp appears earlier in a measure, but the composer wants the next F to be unaltered. Which accidental should appear before it?
Flat
Natural
Double sharp
Sharp
15. In a vocal melody, one lyric syllable is sung across several different notes. What is this technique called?
Ostinato
Staccato
Syllabic setting
Melisma
16. Which major key has a key signature with no sharps or flats?
C major
G major
F major
D major