Songwriters Melody and Chord Progressions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a 'secondary dominant' such as V/V (five of five) do in a progression?
- Temporarily tonicizes a chord other than the tonic (Correct answer)
- Slows the tempo
- Lowers the entire key by a step
- Removes all tension
Correct answer: Temporarily tonicizes a chord other than the tonic
A secondary dominant acts as the dominant of a chord other than I, briefly making that chord feel like a temporary home.
Question 2: Which scale is most commonly used to write country and folk vocal melodies because it avoids dissonant tones?
- The major pentatonic scale (Correct answer)
- The whole-tone scale
- The chromatic scale
- The locrian mode
Correct answer: The major pentatonic scale
The major pentatonic scale's five notes avoid the more dissonant intervals, making melodies sound consonant and singable.
Question 3: A 'turnaround' at the end of a section primarily serves what purpose?
- Leads the harmony back to the start of the next section (Correct answer)
- Ends the song permanently
- Changes the time signature
- Mutes the rhythm section
Correct answer: Leads the harmony back to the start of the next section
A turnaround is a short progression that redirects the harmony back to the top for the next verse or chorus.
Question 4: Which chord substitution adds color by replacing the V chord with a chord a tritone away in jazz-influenced songwriting?
- Tritone substitution (Correct answer)
- Plagal substitution
- Relative major substitution
- Neapolitan substitution
Correct answer: Tritone substitution
A tritone substitution swaps the dominant for a dominant chord a tritone away, sharing key tones but adding chromatic motion.
Question 5: What is 'call and response' in melody writing?
- A phrase is answered by a contrasting or complementary phrase (Correct answer)
- Two singers harmonize in thirds
- The melody mirrors the bass exactly
- A chord is held for a full measure
Correct answer: A phrase is answered by a contrasting or complementary phrase
Call and response pairs a musical 'question' phrase with an 'answer' phrase, a hallmark of blues and country.
Question 6: In a minor key, which chord is often raised to create a stronger dominant function leading to the tonic?
- The V chord (raising the seventh to form a major V) (Correct answer)
- The iv chord
- The bVII chord
- The bIII chord
Correct answer: The V chord (raising the seventh to form a major V)
Raising the seventh scale degree turns the minor v into a major V, giving a strong leading tone toward the tonic.
Question 7: Why might a songwriter use a suspended chord (sus2 or sus4) in a progression?
- To create tension that resolves when the suspended note moves to a chord tone (Correct answer)
- To make the chord louder
- To change the song's key
- To eliminate the bass note
Correct answer: To create tension that resolves when the suspended note moves to a chord tone
Suspended chords replace the third with a 2nd or 4th, creating an open, unresolved sound that resolves to the major or minor third.
Songwriters Melody and Chord Progressions 3
What does a 'secondary dominant' such as V/V (five of five) do in a progression?