Aural Skills and Dictation Flashcards

You are transcribing a melody and hear scale degree 4 raised by a half step. This chromatic alteration most strongly implies motion toward:

Answer: The dominant chord

Raised scale degree 4 (#4) functions as a secondary leading tone pointing toward scale degree 5 (the dominant), often part of a #IV° or V/V chord.

Which type of motion between two voices always maintains a constant interval size?

Answer: Parallel motion

In parallel motion both voices move in the same direction by the same interval size, keeping the distance between them constant.

In rhythm dictation, a passage is notated with a time signature of 5/4. The most common way to feel this meter is:

Answer: As 2+3 or 3+2 quarter-note groupings

5/4 is typically felt as either 2+3 or 3+2 pulse groupings, which performers use to maintain rhythmic stability.

A Neapolitan chord (N or bII) in C major consists of which pitches?

Answer: Db-F-Ab

The Neapolitan is a major triad built on the lowered second scale degree; in C major that is Db–F–Ab.

When dictating a melody, you notice every phrase ends on scale degree 1. This most likely indicates the piece is:

Answer: Strongly tonal with clear cadential closure

Repeated phrase endings on scale degree 1 (tonic) signal strong tonal closure and clear cadential articulation.

A major scale and its relative minor share the same key signature. The relative minor begins on which scale degree of the major scale?

Answer: 6th

The relative natural minor scale starts on scale degree 6 of the major scale and shares all the same pitches and key signature.

In four-voice dictation, the soprano and alto sing the same pitch. This texture is called:

Answer: Unison doubling

When two voices sing the same pitch (zero interval), it is called a unison, and writing them on the same pitch is unison doubling.