Songwriters Music Theory and Harmony 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the relative minor of G major?
- E minor (Correct answer)
- B minor
- D minor
- C minor
Correct answer: E minor
The relative minor sits on the sixth degree of the major scale, which is E in G major, and shares the same key signature.
Question 2: A 'secondary dominant' such as V/V in the key of C would most likely be which chord?
- D major (D7) (Correct answer)
- G major
- A minor
- F major
Correct answer: D major (D7)
V/V is the dominant of the dominant; the dominant is G, and G's dominant is D major.
Question 3: Which time signature would a songwriter choose for a classic waltz feel?
- 3/4 (Correct answer)
- 4/4
- 6/8
- 2/2
Correct answer: 3/4
A waltz has a strong three-beat pulse, notated as 3/4 with one beat per quarter note.
Question 4: What distinguishes a suspended (sus4) chord from a major chord?
- The third is replaced by the fourth (Correct answer)
- The fifth is lowered
- A seventh is added
- The root is doubled
Correct answer: The third is replaced by the fourth
A sus4 chord replaces the major or minor third with the perfect fourth, creating an unresolved, open sound.
Question 5: In the Nashville Number System, the number '4' in a song written in the key of A refers to which chord?
- D (Correct answer)
- E
- F#m
- C#m
Correct answer: D
The 4 chord is built on the fourth scale degree; in A major that is D.
Question 6: Which cadence (V to I) gives the strongest, most conclusive sense of ending?
- Authentic (perfect) cadence (Correct answer)
- Plagal cadence
- Half cadence
- Deceptive cadence
Correct answer: Authentic (perfect) cadence
A perfect authentic cadence moves dominant to tonic with both chords in root position, giving the most final resolution.
Question 7: A songwriter adds a 'flat seven' to a major chord to make it lead toward the IV chord. This new chord functions as a:
- Dominant seventh acting as a secondary dominant (Correct answer)
- Diminished triad
- Suspended chord
- Augmented chord
Correct answer: Dominant seventh acting as a secondary dominant
Adding a flat seven to the tonic turns it into a dominant seventh that pulls toward IV, a common blues and country move.
Songwriters Music Theory and Harmony 3
What is the relative minor of G major?