Songwriters Melody and Harmony Questions and Answers

Question 1

A songwriter wants to create a melody that is smooth and easy for a vocalist to sing, primarily moving in small increments. Which type of melodic motion should they primarily use?

Accepted Answer

Conjunct motion

Answer

Disjunct motion

Answer

Static motion

Answer

Contrary motion

Question 2

In a song's final chorus, the songwriter wants to create a powerful, definitive sense of arrival and finality. Which harmonic cadence provides the strongest feeling of resolution to the tonic?

Accepted Answer

Perfect Authentic cadence (V-I)

Answer

Plagal cadence (IV-I)

Answer

Deceptive cadence (V-vi)

Answer

Half cadence (ends on V)

Question 3

A songwriter has a short, recurring melodic idea that is used throughout a song to provide unity and character. This small, identifiable musical fragment is best described as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A motif

Answer

An ostinato

Answer

A sequence

Answer

An arpeggio

Question 4

To build suspense and a feeling of unease in a bridge section, a songwriter uses a chord built with a root, a minor third, and a diminished fifth. What type of chord creates this characteristic tension?

Accepted Answer

Diminished chord

Answer

Augmented chord

Answer

Major seventh chord

Answer

Suspended chord

Question 5

A songwriter is creating a ballad. For the verse, the melody starts on a low note, rises to a peak in the middle of the phrase, and then gently falls back down. What is this common melodic contour called?

Accepted Answer

Arch shape

Answer

Descending line

Answer

Inverted arch

Answer

Stationary

Question 6

A songwriter sustains a single bass note (the tonic) while the chords in the upper voices change above it, creating shifting harmonies against a constant anchor. What is this harmonic device called?

Accepted Answer

A pedal point

Answer

A drone

Answer

An inversion

Answer

A countermelody