BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Melodic and Rhythmic Dictation 3

Question 1

You hear a melody in a minor key whose sixth and seventh scale degrees are both raised. Which minor scale form is being used?

Accepted Answer

Melodic minor (ascending)

Answer

The ascending form of the melodic minor scale raises both scale degrees 6 and 7 to smooth the melodic line toward the octave.

Question 2

In a rhythmic dictation, you hear a syncopated pattern where the accent falls between the beats. The note on the off-beat is tied to the following downbeat. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Syncopation

Answer

Syncopation places emphasis on normally weak beats or off-beats, often by tying a note across a strong beat.

Question 3

A melodic dictation passage uses the pitches C-E-G-B. Assuming C is the tonic, these pitches outline which chord quality?

Accepted Answer

Major seventh

Answer

C-E-G-B forms a major triad with a major seventh, creating a major seventh chord (Cmaj7).

Question 4

You are transcribing a melody and notice it uses only the five pitches of a pentatonic scale. Which scale degree is typically omitted from a major pentatonic scale?

Accepted Answer

Scale degrees 4 and 7

Answer

The major pentatonic scale omits scale degrees 4 and 7, eliminating the tritone and half-step tensions.

Question 5

During melodic dictation, you hear a chromatic passing tone between two diatonic pitches. The chromatic pitch appears:

Accepted Answer

On a weak beat, filling a half-step gap

Answer

Chromatic passing tones occur on weak beats, moving by half step between two diatonic pitches a whole step apart.

BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Practice Test

BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Practice Test

BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Melodic and Rhythmic Dictation 3