FREE Songwriters Music Theory Fundamentals Questions and Answers

Question 1

A songwriter in the key of C Major wants to create a progression with a sense of hopeful, yet slightly sentimental emotion, a sound very common in pop music.
Which of the following diatonic chord progressions would be most suitable?

Accepted Answer

C - G - Am - F (I - V - vi - IV)

Answer

C - F - G - C (I - IV - V - I)

Answer

Am - F - C - G (vi - IV - I - V)

Answer

C - Em - F - G (I - iii - IV - V)

Question 2

You are co-writing a song and your partner suggests changing the time signature of the bridge to create a different feel. The song is currently in 4/4 time. Which of the following time signatures would create the most noticeable rhythmic shift for the listener?

Accepted Answer

7/8

Answer

2/4

Answer

3/4

Answer

6/8

Question 3

In songwriting, the term 'prosody' refers to the appropriate alignment of which two elements to support the song's central message?

Accepted Answer

Lyrical rhythm and musical rhythm

Answer

Chord progression and instrumentation

Answer

Verse structure and chorus structure

Answer

Melody and harmony

Question 4

A songwriter is working on a melody and wants to ensure it fits comfortably within a typical pop singer's vocal range and is easy for audiences to sing along to. What is the most important consideration when choosing a key for the song?

Accepted Answer

The overall tessitura (average range) of the melody.

Answer

The number of sharps or flats in the key signature.

Answer

The key that makes the primary chords easiest to play on guitar.

Answer

The key of the songwriter's previous hit song.

Question 5

Which section of a typical verse-chorus song structure usually contains the main lyrical and musical hook and repeats with the same lyrics each time?

Accepted Answer

Chorus

Answer

Verse

Answer

Bridge

Answer

Pre-Chorus

Question 6

A key signature shows one flat (B♭). This indicates that the song is most likely in which of the following major or relative minor keys?

Accepted Answer

F Major or D minor

Answer

G Major or E minor

Answer

C Major or A minor

Answer

D Major or B minor

A songwriter in the key of C Major wants to create a progression with a sense of hopeful, yet slightly sentimental emotion, a sound very common in pop music.Which of the following diatonic chord progressions would be most suitable?

A songwriter in the key of C Major wants to create a progression with a sense of hopeful, yet slightly sentimental emotion, a sound very common in pop music.
Which of the following diatonic chord progressions would be most suitable?