Music Transcription Ultimate Music Transcription 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When transcribing music in 12-tone (dodecaphonic) style, what must be true of the tone row?
- It must start on the note C
- It must include all 12 chromatic pitches exactly once before repeating (Correct answer)
- It must follow a major scale pattern
- It must be exactly 8 notes long
Correct answer: It must include all 12 chromatic pitches exactly once before repeating
A 12-tone row uses all 12 chromatic pitches exactly once before any pitch can be repeated, forming the basis of serial composition.
Question 2: A transcriber encounters a trill marking on the note G in a Baroque piece with no accidental. The trill most likely alternates between:
- G and G#
- G and A (Correct answer)
- G and F#
- G and A♭
Correct answer: G and A
In Baroque style, a standard trill without an accidental alternates between the written note and the diatonic step above it (G to A).
Question 3: Which approach is most useful when transcribing a chord progression from a recording where the bass is unclear?
- Assume all chords are in root position
- Identify the melody first and work backward
- Listen for the lowest audible pitch and match it to a chord quality (Correct answer)
- Transcribe only the rhythm and ignore pitch
Correct answer: Listen for the lowest audible pitch and match it to a chord quality
Finding the lowest audible pitch and matching chord tones against it helps identify both the root and the inversion of ambiguous chords.
Question 4: A piece in D major that moves to a chord built on the raised 4th scale degree (G#) is using a chord borrowed from:
- The relative minor
- The Lydian mode (Correct answer)
- The parallel minor
- The Neapolitan
Correct answer: The Lydian mode
The raised 4th degree is characteristic of the Lydian mode, and a chord emphasizing G# in D major borrows the Lydian flavor.
Question 5: In drum notation transcription, which note head shape is typically used to notate cymbals?
- Regular filled oval
- X-shaped notehead (Correct answer)
- Diamond notehead
- Triangular notehead
Correct answer: X-shaped notehead
Percussion notation uses X-shaped noteheads for cymbals and hi-hats to visually distinguish them from pitched drum sounds.
Question 6: When a transcribed score shows the marking 'col legno,' a string player should:
- Play with the bow hair as usual
- Play with the wooden back of the bow (Correct answer)
- Pluck the string with the finger
- Mute the string with the palm
Correct answer: Play with the wooden back of the bow
Col legno ('with the wood') instructs string players to strike or bow the string with the wooden stick of the bow rather than the hair.
Question 7: A transcriber must choose between writing C# and D♭ for a pitch in a piece in the key of A♭ major. The correct choice is:
- C# because it sounds brighter
- D♭ because it belongs to the A♭ major key signature (Correct answer)
- C# because sharps are always preferred
- Either spelling is always interchangeable
Correct answer: D♭ because it belongs to the A♭ major key signature
In A♭ major, the diatonic note is D♭ (the 4th scale degree); using C# would create an accidental and conflict with the established key signature.
Music Transcription Ultimate Music Transcription 5
When transcribing music in 12-tone (dodecaphonic) style, what must be true of the tone row?