Music Theory Flashcards
7 cards from real BM or BMus Bachelor of Music practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Music Theory flashcards as text
How many sharps are in the key signature of A major?
Answer: 3
A major has three sharps: F-sharp, C-sharp, and G-sharp.
Which of the following describes a tritone?
Answer: An augmented fourth or diminished fifth
A tritone spans six half steps and can be spelled as either an augmented fourth or a diminished fifth.
What is the relative minor of F major?
Answer: D minor
The relative minor of F major is D minor, sharing the same key signature of one flat.
Which symbol indicates that a note should be sustained beyond its normal duration and released at the performer's discretion?
Answer: Fermata
A fermata (bird's eye symbol) tells the performer to hold the note longer than its written value at their discretion.
In common-practice harmony, which progression is known as a 'deceptive cadence'?
Answer: V–vi
A deceptive cadence moves from V to vi instead of the expected V–I, 'deceiving' the listener's expectation of resolution.
What is the intervallic formula for a natural minor scale?
Answer: W-H-W-W-H-W-W
The natural minor scale follows the pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W (whole and half steps).
Which clef is most commonly used for viola music?
Answer: Alto clef
The viola primarily uses the alto clef (C clef on the middle line), which places middle C on the middle staff line.