Music Transcription Melodic and Interval Recognition Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You hear two notes played in succession. The first note is C4 (middle C) and the second note is A4. Which melodic interval has been played?
- Perfect Fifth
- Major Sixth (Correct answer)
- Minor Seventh
- Major Third
Correct answer: Major Sixth
A Major Sixth is an interval spanning nine semitones. The distance from C4 to A4 is nine semitones (C-C#, C#-D, D-D#, D#-E, E-F, F-F#, F#-G, G-G#, G#-A), which corresponds to a Major Sixth. A common song reference for this interval is the first two notes of 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'.
Question 2: While transcribing a solo flute passage, you notice the melody begins on a low note, rises to a single peak, and then returns to a low note. Which term best describes this melodic contour?
- Descending
- Wave
- Arch (Correct answer)
- Static
Correct answer: Arch
An 'Arch' contour describes a melodic shape that ascends and then descends, creating a curved shape similar to an arch. A descending contour only moves downwards, a wave contour moves up and down multiple times, and a static contour remains on or very near the same pitch.
Question 3: Which of the following intervals is considered a 'perfect' interval, as opposed to major or minor?
- Third
- Sixth
- Seventh
- Fourth (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Fourth
In interval classification, the unison, fourth, fifth, and octave are categorized as 'perfect' intervals. Seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths are categorized as either major or minor.
Question 4: You are transcribing a simple folk melody in C Major. You hear a three-note melodic fragment that moves from G up to B and then down to A. How would you describe this motion in terms of scale degrees?
- Dominant -> Leading Tone -> Submediant (Correct answer)
- Tonic -> Mediant -> Supertonic
- Subdominant -> Submediant -> Dominant
- Mediant -> Dominant -> Subdominant
Correct answer: Dominant -> Leading Tone -> Submediant
In the key of C Major, G is the fifth scale degree (Dominant), B is the seventh scale degree (Leading Tone), and A is the sixth scale degree (Submediant). Therefore, the melodic motion is from the Dominant, up to the Leading Tone, and down to the Submediant.
Question 5: In a melodic dictation exercise, you hear an ascending interval from F to B. This interval is highly dissonant and has a strong tendency to resolve. What is this interval called, and what is its most likely resolution?
- Minor Sixth, resolving inward to a Perfect Fifth
- Major Seventh, resolving outward to a Perfect Octave
- Augmented Fourth (Tritone), resolving outward to a Major Sixth (Correct answer)
- Diminished Fifth (Tritone), resolving inward to a Minor Third
Correct answer: Augmented Fourth (Tritone), resolving outward to a Major Sixth
The interval from F to B spans six semitones and is called an Augmented Fourth, also known as a tritone. This interval creates significant tension. When spelled as an augmented fourth, it has a strong tendency to resolve outward by step in contrary motion. In this case, F would typically move down to E and B would move up to C, creating the interval of a Major Sixth (or a minor sixth if resolving to C and Eb).
Question 6: What is the primary difference a transcriber must listen for to distinguish between a melodic interval and a harmonic interval?
- The dynamic level at which the notes are played.
- The timbre of the instrument playing the notes.
- Whether the notes are played sequentially or simultaneously. (Correct answer)
- The duration of the notes being played.
Correct answer: Whether the notes are played sequentially or simultaneously.
A melodic interval consists of two notes played in succession, one after the other, forming a melody. A harmonic interval consists of two notes played at the same time, creating harmony. The core distinction is the timing of the notes' presentation.
Music Transcription Melodic and Interval Recognition Questions and Answers
You hear two notes played in succession.
The first note is C4 (middle C) and the second note is A4.
Which melodic interval has been played?