MUSC 2150 final exam questions well
answered graded A+ 2025/2026
When was rock classified as "rock n' roll"? - correct answer ✔✔1954-1959
the "popularity arc" refers to: - correct answer ✔✔the rise of a musical style from a subculture
into the mainstream and then its decline back into a subculture
Instrumental Verse - correct answer ✔✔a verse section that repeats music of the verse, without
singing and with an instrument soloing. Guitar, saxophone, and keyboard solos are common,
though any instrument can solo in an instrumental verse.
Bar/Measure - correct answer ✔✔A specific number of musical sounds that are organized
within a measure, and that are contained within two solid lines called bar lines; USUALLY the
same throughout the song
Rhythm - correct answer ✔✔the organized patterning of the temporal dimension in music; a
short segment with a clearly defined profile
Meter Classification - correct answer ✔✔classify how we feel the organization of the rhythm for
a particular song/passage; simple or compound, then either triple, duple, or quadruple
meter - correct answer ✔✔establishes how we will notate music within a certain classification;
2/4, ¾, and 4/4 most common in rock music, 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8 most common out of the
compound meters
Simple Duple Meter - correct answer ✔✔2 beats in a bar of music; 2/4 or 6/8 for compound
feel
,simple quadruple meter - correct answer ✔✔4 beats per bar in music; 4/4 for simple, 12/8 for
compound; ONE two THRee four
shuffle rhythm - correct answer ✔✔transforms 4/4 closer to 12/8; "1 & 2 & 3 & 4", or "1 & ah 2
& ah", with the & being silent
triple meter - correct answer ✔✔there are 3 beats in a bar of music; notated as ¾, or 9/8 for
compound feel
compound meter - correct answer ✔✔- when the basic beat is subdivided into three equal
parts; looks like 6/8, 12/8
- ex: What a Wonderful World
Timbre - correct answer ✔✔refers to quality/colour of a sound; difference in sound between a
flute and trumpet is easy to tell
12 bar blues - correct answer ✔✔- structure that forms the musical basis for many verses,
choruses, and even bridges; divided into 3 four bar phrases; lyrics often repeated from the first
phrase to second phrase, with new ones in 3rd phrase;
- strongly associated with the 1950s rock
phrase - correct answer ✔✔a short passage of music; often four or eight measures in length in
rock; divides music to make it easier to comprehend, like a sentence in spoken word; vocal
phrases often correspond to obvious points of division and articulation in the lyrics being sung
doo-wop progression - correct answer ✔✔a structure that can form the basis of a verse, chorus,
and bridge; repeating pattern of 4 chords (I-vi-IV-V); common in youth oriented vocal harmony
music in '50's
,full reprise - correct answer ✔✔when entire AABA structure is repeated, maybe even more than
once
partial reprise - correct answer ✔✔when only a portion of the AABA structure is repeated,
usually repeating the BA or the ABA sections
Chorus - correct answer ✔✔usually most remembered part of a song, containing title and
catchiest material
Simple verse form - correct answer ✔✔no chorus or bridge sections are present, though the
verses may contain a refrain
AABA form - correct answer ✔✔song form that uses two verses, a bridge, and a return to the
verse as a pattern; frequent in rock and Tin Pan Alley song styles
Simple verse-chorus form - correct answer ✔✔the verse and chorus employ same underlying
music material, though lyrics and song melodies differ, in alternating style
Contrasting verse-chorus form - correct answer ✔✔Contrasting music material is in the chorus
vs the verses, in alternating style
Role of drums/percussion: - correct answer ✔✔- Heart of rhythm section
- Establishes feel of the song
- Snare, bass, high hat, tom-toms, ride toms, cymbals (ride and crash)
- Can be enhanced with tambourine, cowbell, conga drums, hand claps
Role of electric bass: - correct answer ✔✔- Locks in with drums rhythmically
- Bridge between rhythmic and harmonic sections, by layering with the bass drum
, Role of rhythm guitar and keyboards: - correct answer ✔✔Plays full chords and adds to
harmonic dimension
Acoustic were sometimes used instead of drums
Piano, organ, or synthesizer was used with or in place of rhythm guitar
Role of vocals: - correct answer ✔✔- Provides melody
- Create melodic interest and deliver lyrics in a convincing manner
Role of horns and strings: - correct answer ✔✔- Trumpets, trombones, saxophones, gives more
punch
- Strings can make it sound bigger and more elegant, often saved to the end
- Must be backdrop and not draw too much attention
Methods of recording (5): - correct answer ✔✔reverb
echo
equalization
stereo placement
mixing/mix down
Reverb - correct answer ✔✔spacial effect added to recordings and live performances to create
an artificial sense of sound happening in reverberant places
echo - correct answer ✔✔created through tape manipulation in which multiple copies of a
sound are layered in quick succession
answered graded A+ 2025/2026
When was rock classified as "rock n' roll"? - correct answer ✔✔1954-1959
the "popularity arc" refers to: - correct answer ✔✔the rise of a musical style from a subculture
into the mainstream and then its decline back into a subculture
Instrumental Verse - correct answer ✔✔a verse section that repeats music of the verse, without
singing and with an instrument soloing. Guitar, saxophone, and keyboard solos are common,
though any instrument can solo in an instrumental verse.
Bar/Measure - correct answer ✔✔A specific number of musical sounds that are organized
within a measure, and that are contained within two solid lines called bar lines; USUALLY the
same throughout the song
Rhythm - correct answer ✔✔the organized patterning of the temporal dimension in music; a
short segment with a clearly defined profile
Meter Classification - correct answer ✔✔classify how we feel the organization of the rhythm for
a particular song/passage; simple or compound, then either triple, duple, or quadruple
meter - correct answer ✔✔establishes how we will notate music within a certain classification;
2/4, ¾, and 4/4 most common in rock music, 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8 most common out of the
compound meters
Simple Duple Meter - correct answer ✔✔2 beats in a bar of music; 2/4 or 6/8 for compound
feel
,simple quadruple meter - correct answer ✔✔4 beats per bar in music; 4/4 for simple, 12/8 for
compound; ONE two THRee four
shuffle rhythm - correct answer ✔✔transforms 4/4 closer to 12/8; "1 & 2 & 3 & 4", or "1 & ah 2
& ah", with the & being silent
triple meter - correct answer ✔✔there are 3 beats in a bar of music; notated as ¾, or 9/8 for
compound feel
compound meter - correct answer ✔✔- when the basic beat is subdivided into three equal
parts; looks like 6/8, 12/8
- ex: What a Wonderful World
Timbre - correct answer ✔✔refers to quality/colour of a sound; difference in sound between a
flute and trumpet is easy to tell
12 bar blues - correct answer ✔✔- structure that forms the musical basis for many verses,
choruses, and even bridges; divided into 3 four bar phrases; lyrics often repeated from the first
phrase to second phrase, with new ones in 3rd phrase;
- strongly associated with the 1950s rock
phrase - correct answer ✔✔a short passage of music; often four or eight measures in length in
rock; divides music to make it easier to comprehend, like a sentence in spoken word; vocal
phrases often correspond to obvious points of division and articulation in the lyrics being sung
doo-wop progression - correct answer ✔✔a structure that can form the basis of a verse, chorus,
and bridge; repeating pattern of 4 chords (I-vi-IV-V); common in youth oriented vocal harmony
music in '50's
,full reprise - correct answer ✔✔when entire AABA structure is repeated, maybe even more than
once
partial reprise - correct answer ✔✔when only a portion of the AABA structure is repeated,
usually repeating the BA or the ABA sections
Chorus - correct answer ✔✔usually most remembered part of a song, containing title and
catchiest material
Simple verse form - correct answer ✔✔no chorus or bridge sections are present, though the
verses may contain a refrain
AABA form - correct answer ✔✔song form that uses two verses, a bridge, and a return to the
verse as a pattern; frequent in rock and Tin Pan Alley song styles
Simple verse-chorus form - correct answer ✔✔the verse and chorus employ same underlying
music material, though lyrics and song melodies differ, in alternating style
Contrasting verse-chorus form - correct answer ✔✔Contrasting music material is in the chorus
vs the verses, in alternating style
Role of drums/percussion: - correct answer ✔✔- Heart of rhythm section
- Establishes feel of the song
- Snare, bass, high hat, tom-toms, ride toms, cymbals (ride and crash)
- Can be enhanced with tambourine, cowbell, conga drums, hand claps
Role of electric bass: - correct answer ✔✔- Locks in with drums rhythmically
- Bridge between rhythmic and harmonic sections, by layering with the bass drum
, Role of rhythm guitar and keyboards: - correct answer ✔✔Plays full chords and adds to
harmonic dimension
Acoustic were sometimes used instead of drums
Piano, organ, or synthesizer was used with or in place of rhythm guitar
Role of vocals: - correct answer ✔✔- Provides melody
- Create melodic interest and deliver lyrics in a convincing manner
Role of horns and strings: - correct answer ✔✔- Trumpets, trombones, saxophones, gives more
punch
- Strings can make it sound bigger and more elegant, often saved to the end
- Must be backdrop and not draw too much attention
Methods of recording (5): - correct answer ✔✔reverb
echo
equalization
stereo placement
mixing/mix down
Reverb - correct answer ✔✔spacial effect added to recordings and live performances to create
an artificial sense of sound happening in reverberant places
echo - correct answer ✔✔created through tape manipulation in which multiple copies of a
sound are layered in quick succession
