Tonal Harmony Chapters 1-4 Questions
and Answers
Accidental - ANSWER-A symbol that raises or lowers a pitch by a half or whole step.
Altered or Chromatic Chords - ANSWER-Chords using notes not found in the scale on
which the passage is based.
Augmented - ANSWER-An interval modifier used when a perfect or major interval is
made a half step larger without changing its numerical name.
Augmented Triad (+) - ANSWER-A triad featuring a +5 divided into two M3s.
Bar line - ANSWER-A marking that indicates the end of a measure; depicted by a
vertical line through the staff.
Bass - ANSWER-Informally, the lowest voice in a vocal or instrumental texture.
Bass Position - ANSWER-An arrangement of the notes of a triad, identified by the chord
member that is in the lowest sounding voice.
Bass-Position Symbols - ANSWER-Not to be confused with figured bass symbols, these
symbols are usually used with a roman numeral as part of a harmonic analysis to
indicate what inversion a chord is in.
Beam - ANSWER-Used to connect durations shorter than a quarter note when the
durations occur within the same beat.
Beat - ANSWER-Basic pulse of a musical passage
Circle of Fifths - ANSWER-A diagram arranged like the face of a clock that aids in the
memorization of key signatures. Moving clockwise around the circle, each new key
begins on of the previous key while, moving counterclockwise around the circle, each
new key begins on of the previous key.
Clef - ANSWER-Symbol that appears at the beginning of the staff indicating which
pitches are to be associated with which lines and spaces.
Compound beat - ANSWER-A beat that divides into three equal parts.
Compound Intervals - ANSWER-Intervals larger than and including the 8ve.
Compound single - ANSWER-A piece written in a 3/4 time signature with a fast tempo
that has the aural effect of one beat per measure.
, Consonant - ANSWER-A quality ascribed to an interval that is pleasing to the ear
(including major and minor 3rds and 6ths, perfect 4ths [when they do not occur
harmonically above the bass], perfect 5ths, and perfect 8ves). (Triads are also
considered consonant when their bass note forms only consonances with the upper
notes.)
Diatonic Chords - ANSWER-Chords made up only of notes from the scale on which the
passage is based.
Diminished - ANSWER-An interval modifier used when a perfect or minor interval is
made a half step smaller without changing its numerical name.
Diminished Seventh Chord (o7) - ANSWER-Diminished triad with a o7 above the root.
Diminished Triad (o) - ANSWER-A triad with a o5 divided into two m3s.
Dissonant - ANSWER-A quality ascribed to an interval that is not pleasing to the ear
(including major and minor 2nds and 7ths, perfect 4ths [when they occur above the
bass], tritones, and all augmented and diminished intervals). Triads and other chords
are also considered dissonant when at least one dissonance is formed with their bass
note.)
Divisions of the Beat - ANSWER-Durations representing the metric organization of a
single beat.
Dot - ANSWER-Adds to the duration one half the value of the note, rest, or for that
precedes it
Doubled - ANSWER-A note that is duplicated in another octave.
Duple Meter - ANSWER-Two-beat measure the typical metric accent pattern is strong-
weak.
Duple, Triple, and Quadruple - ANSWER-Refers to the number of beats in each
measure.
Enharmonic - ANSWER-Notes that have the same pitch but are spelled differently. Keys
can be enharmonic as well.
Figured Bass (Thoroughbass) - ANSWER-A method of abbreviated notation used in the
Baroque era. Consists of a bass line and some symbols indicating the chord to be
played above each bass note.
First Inversion - ANSWER-A chord with the 3rd as the lowest tone.
and Answers
Accidental - ANSWER-A symbol that raises or lowers a pitch by a half or whole step.
Altered or Chromatic Chords - ANSWER-Chords using notes not found in the scale on
which the passage is based.
Augmented - ANSWER-An interval modifier used when a perfect or major interval is
made a half step larger without changing its numerical name.
Augmented Triad (+) - ANSWER-A triad featuring a +5 divided into two M3s.
Bar line - ANSWER-A marking that indicates the end of a measure; depicted by a
vertical line through the staff.
Bass - ANSWER-Informally, the lowest voice in a vocal or instrumental texture.
Bass Position - ANSWER-An arrangement of the notes of a triad, identified by the chord
member that is in the lowest sounding voice.
Bass-Position Symbols - ANSWER-Not to be confused with figured bass symbols, these
symbols are usually used with a roman numeral as part of a harmonic analysis to
indicate what inversion a chord is in.
Beam - ANSWER-Used to connect durations shorter than a quarter note when the
durations occur within the same beat.
Beat - ANSWER-Basic pulse of a musical passage
Circle of Fifths - ANSWER-A diagram arranged like the face of a clock that aids in the
memorization of key signatures. Moving clockwise around the circle, each new key
begins on of the previous key while, moving counterclockwise around the circle, each
new key begins on of the previous key.
Clef - ANSWER-Symbol that appears at the beginning of the staff indicating which
pitches are to be associated with which lines and spaces.
Compound beat - ANSWER-A beat that divides into three equal parts.
Compound Intervals - ANSWER-Intervals larger than and including the 8ve.
Compound single - ANSWER-A piece written in a 3/4 time signature with a fast tempo
that has the aural effect of one beat per measure.
, Consonant - ANSWER-A quality ascribed to an interval that is pleasing to the ear
(including major and minor 3rds and 6ths, perfect 4ths [when they do not occur
harmonically above the bass], perfect 5ths, and perfect 8ves). (Triads are also
considered consonant when their bass note forms only consonances with the upper
notes.)
Diatonic Chords - ANSWER-Chords made up only of notes from the scale on which the
passage is based.
Diminished - ANSWER-An interval modifier used when a perfect or minor interval is
made a half step smaller without changing its numerical name.
Diminished Seventh Chord (o7) - ANSWER-Diminished triad with a o7 above the root.
Diminished Triad (o) - ANSWER-A triad with a o5 divided into two m3s.
Dissonant - ANSWER-A quality ascribed to an interval that is not pleasing to the ear
(including major and minor 2nds and 7ths, perfect 4ths [when they occur above the
bass], tritones, and all augmented and diminished intervals). Triads and other chords
are also considered dissonant when at least one dissonance is formed with their bass
note.)
Divisions of the Beat - ANSWER-Durations representing the metric organization of a
single beat.
Dot - ANSWER-Adds to the duration one half the value of the note, rest, or for that
precedes it
Doubled - ANSWER-A note that is duplicated in another octave.
Duple Meter - ANSWER-Two-beat measure the typical metric accent pattern is strong-
weak.
Duple, Triple, and Quadruple - ANSWER-Refers to the number of beats in each
measure.
Enharmonic - ANSWER-Notes that have the same pitch but are spelled differently. Keys
can be enharmonic as well.
Figured Bass (Thoroughbass) - ANSWER-A method of abbreviated notation used in the
Baroque era. Consists of a bass line and some symbols indicating the chord to be
played above each bass note.
First Inversion - ANSWER-A chord with the 3rd as the lowest tone.
