Songwriters Music Theory and Harmony Questions and Answers

Question 1

A songwriter in the key of C Major wants to add a moment of unexpected color and melancholy.
Which of the following chords, borrowed from the parallel minor key (C minor), would be the most common and effective choice to achieve this?

Accepted Answer

F minor (iv)

Answer

D diminished (ii°)

Answer

G Major (V)

Answer

E-flat Major (♭III)

Question 2

In a song in the key of G Major, a songwriter uses the chord progression: G - D - Em - C. They decide to insert a chord before the Em to create a stronger pull towards it. Which of the following secondary dominant chords would best accomplish this?

Accepted Answer

B Major (V/vi)

Answer

A Major (V/ii)

Answer

C Major (V/IV)

Answer

D Major (V)

Question 3

A songwriter is working on a verse melody and wants to create a progression with a classic, 'feel-good' sound that has been a staple in pop and rock music for decades. Which of the following diatonic chord progressions is most famously associated with this feeling?

Accepted Answer

I - V - vi - IV

Answer

I - vi - IV - V

Answer

i - VI - III - VII

Answer

I - ii - iii - IV

Question 4

Which of the following musical modes is characterized by being a minor scale with a raised sixth degree, often described as having a 'bright minor' or 'soulful' sound?

Accepted Answer

Dorian

Answer

Phrygian

Answer

Lydian

Answer

Locrian

Question 5

A songwriter wants to create a chord progression that strongly establishes the tonic. Which harmonic function serves to create the most tension and strongest desire to resolve back to the tonic (I) chord?

Accepted Answer

Dominant

Answer

Mediant

Answer

Subdominant

Answer

Submediant

Question 6

A songwriter has a progression in A Major: A - F#m - D - E. To add melodic interest in the bassline, they change the final E chord to E/G#, placing the G# in the bass. What is this harmonic device called?

Accepted Answer

A Chord Inversion

Answer

Modal Interchange

Answer

A Secondary Dominant

Answer

A Suspension

A songwriter in the key of C Major wants to add a moment of unexpected color and melancholy.Which of the following chords, borrowed from the parallel minor key (C minor), would be the most common and effective choice to achieve this?

A songwriter in the key of C Major wants to add a moment of unexpected color and melancholy.
Which of the following chords, borrowed from the parallel minor key (C minor), would be the most common and effective choice to achieve this?