Songwriters Songwriters Music Theory and Harmony Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which chord quality results from stacking a minor third on top of a major third?
- Major
- Minor (Correct answer)
- Diminished
- Augmented
Correct answer: Minor
A minor chord is built by placing a minor third above a major third from the root.
Question 2: In the key of G major, what is the vi chord?
- A minor
- B minor
- E minor (Correct answer)
- D major
Correct answer: E minor
The vi chord in G major is built on the sixth scale degree E, producing E minor.
Question 3: What term describes a chord progression that moves from the V chord to the I chord?
- Plagal cadence
- Deceptive cadence
- Authentic cadence (Correct answer)
- Half cadence
Correct answer: Authentic cadence
An authentic cadence resolves from the dominant (V) to the tonic (I).
Question 4: Which mode is derived from playing the white keys of a piano starting on D?
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Dorian (Correct answer)
- Phrygian
Correct answer: Dorian
The Dorian mode corresponds to the natural notes from D to D on the piano.
Question 5: What does a slash chord notation like C/E indicate?
- Play C major then E major
- Play C major with E as the bass note (Correct answer)
- Play E major with C as the bass note
- Alternate between C and E chords
Correct answer: Play C major with E as the bass note
A slash chord places the note after the slash in the bass while playing the chord before the slash.
Question 6: Which interval is considered the tritone?
- Perfect fourth
- Augmented fourth (Correct answer)
- Minor sixth
- Major third
Correct answer: Augmented fourth
The tritone is an augmented fourth (or diminished fifth), spanning three whole tones.
Songwriters Songwriters Music Theory and Harmony Questions and Answers 2
Which chord quality results from stacking a minor third on top of a major third?