Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which type of scale is commonly used in African, Far Eastern, and Native American music?
Which type of scale is commonly used in African, Far Eastern, and Native American music?
Pentatonic scale
What are tonic chords?
What are tonic chords?
- Chords in a minor key
- Chords that include a flat
- Click on the I chords (correct)
- Chords built on the fifth scale degree
Which of the following does NOT describe a minor scale?
Which of the following does NOT describe a minor scale?
- Is used in many musical contexts
- Sounds the same as a major scale (correct)
- Has a different pattern of whole and half steps
- Always starts on a different note than the major scale
This excerpt begins with outlining an - _____ - ____ triad.
This excerpt begins with outlining an - _____ - ____ triad.
What are the dominant chord(s) in this example?
What are the dominant chord(s) in this example?
In this example, the excerpt never deviates from the major key.
In this example, the excerpt never deviates from the major key.
Which statements describe the chromatic scale and which do not?
Which statements describe the chromatic scale and which do not?
A major scale can start on any pitch and will follow the same pattern of half steps and whole steps.
A major scale can start on any pitch and will follow the same pattern of half steps and whole steps.
Which terms describe the scale used in the third movement of Mozart's Symphony No. 40?
Which terms describe the scale used in the third movement of Mozart's Symphony No. 40?
What scale is associated with 'Amazing Grace'?
What scale is associated with 'Amazing Grace'?
What scale is used in 'Bach, Toccata'?
What scale is used in 'Bach, Toccata'?
What scale does 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' represent?
What scale does 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' represent?
How do the two musical examples heard here relate?
How do the two musical examples heard here relate?
Which of the following are true about music systems in non-Western cultures?
Which of the following are true about music systems in non-Western cultures?
What describes the major-minor harmonic system?
What describes the major-minor harmonic system?
Which of the following is NOT an active chord?
Which of the following is NOT an active chord?
A flat sign is used to indicate that the pitch should be raised by a half step.
A flat sign is used to indicate that the pitch should be raised by a half step.
What defines a chromatic scale?
What defines a chromatic scale?
What does a diatonic scale consist of?
What does a diatonic scale consist of?
What is a pentatonic scale?
What is a pentatonic scale?
Music in a major or minor key is considered _____.
Music in a major or minor key is considered _____.
Which term describes the scale used in 'Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata'?
Which term describes the scale used in 'Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata'?
Bach's Contrapunctus I, from The Art of Fugue uses a minor scale.
Bach's Contrapunctus I, from The Art of Fugue uses a minor scale.
Harmonies built on the dominant (fifth scale degree) have a tendency to move toward the _____.
Harmonies built on the dominant (fifth scale degree) have a tendency to move toward the _____.
In Western music, an octave is divided into twelve half steps.
In Western music, an octave is divided into twelve half steps.
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Study Notes
Scales and Chords
- The pentatonic scale is prevalent in African, Far Eastern, and Native American music.
- Tonic chords refer to the I chords in a musical context.
- A minor scale does not sound the same as a major scale, highlighting its distinct tonal quality.
- An excerpt may begin with an ascending minor triad and shift to a major key in the second half.
Musical Key Characteristics
- A V chord represents the dominant chord in musical structures.
- In Haydn's "Surprise," the excerpt does not consistently adhere to the major key; rather, it incorporates variations.
- The chromatic scale consists of all twelve half steps and includes both white and black keys, whereas it does not contain 7 whole steps or follow simple patterns of whole steps.
Major and Minor Scales
- A major scale retains its pattern of whole and half steps regardless of the starting pitch.
- In Mozart's Symphony No. 40, the third movement is characterized by a minor and diatonic scale, contrasting with the major and chromatic scales.
Cultural Context and Music Theory
- Pentatonic scales are also exemplified in songs like "Amazing Grace."
- Non-Western music systems often feature smaller intervals than half steps and scales with varying numbers of pitches, contrary to the Western structure of 12 half steps.
- The major-minor harmonic system consists of active chords, specifically the tonic (rest) chord and the dominant chord, which is active.
Pitch Alterations and Scale Types
- A flat sign indicates lowering a pitch by a half step, not raising it.
- The chromatic scale captures all twelve half steps, while the diatonic scale includes seven steps (whole and half).
- A pentatonic scale contains five distinct notes, forming a unique melodic structure.
Additional Musical Insights
- Music categorized as major or minor is classified as diatonic.
- Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" exemplifies a minor scale in its first movement.
- Bach's Contrapunctus I from The Art of Fugue is also based on a minor scale.
- Harmonies built on the dominant (fifth scale degree) tend to resolve to the tonic chord.
- In Western music, an octave is typically divided into twelve half steps, marking a standard system in musical structure.
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