Songwriters FREE Songwriters Melody and Chord Progressions Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In songwriting, what is a 'passing tone' used for in a melody?
- To connect two chord tones by stepwise motion (Correct answer)
- To add a dramatic pause between phrases
- To replace the root note of a chord
- To signal a key change
Correct answer: To connect two chord tones by stepwise motion
A passing tone is a non-chord tone that moves by step between two chord tones, creating smooth melodic connections.
Question 2: Which chord progression is commonly known as the 'Axis of Awesome' progression used in countless pop songs?
- I-V-vi-IV (Correct answer)
- ii-V-I-IV
- I-IV-V-I
- vi-IV-V-I
Correct answer: I-V-vi-IV
The I-V-vi-IV progression has been used in hundreds of popular songs and was famously demonstrated by the comedy group Axis of Awesome.
Question 3: What technique involves repeating a melodic phrase at a different pitch level?
- Sequencing (Correct answer)
- Inversion
- Retrograde
- Augmentation
Correct answer: Sequencing
Melodic sequencing repeats a musical pattern starting on a different pitch, creating momentum and development in a song.
Question 4: In a minor key, what is the name for the chord built on the raised seventh scale degree that creates a stronger pull to the tonic?
- Leading-tone chord (Correct answer)
- Subtonic chord
- Neapolitan chord
- Augmented sixth chord
Correct answer: Leading-tone chord
Raising the seventh degree in a minor key creates a leading tone that resolves strongly upward to the tonic by half step.
Question 5: What does a 'deceptive cadence' do in a chord progression?
- Resolves from V to vi instead of the expected I (Correct answer)
- Moves from IV directly to I without V
- Ends on an unresolved dominant chord
- Repeats the same chord three times
Correct answer: Resolves from V to vi instead of the expected I
A deceptive cadence substitutes the expected tonic resolution with the vi chord, surprising the listener and extending the phrase.
Question 6: Which interval is most commonly used to create a sense of tension in a melody before resolving?
- Minor second (Correct answer)
- Perfect fifth
- Major third
- Perfect octave
Correct answer: Minor second
The minor second creates strong dissonance and tension that naturally wants to resolve, making it a powerful melodic tool for building anticipation.
Songwriters FREE Songwriters Melody and Chord Progressions Questions and Answers 2
In songwriting, what is a 'passing tone' used for in a melody?