Deck 3: Scales and Melody

Question 1

Explain the diatonic scale.What makes it different from the chromatic scale?

Answer 1

Answer may vary

Question 2

The chromatic scale consists of:

A) all the black keys on the piano.
B) all the white keys on the piano.
C) all the white and black keys on the piano.
D) any collection of pitches in an octave segment.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Name the two types of steps in Western music and define them.

Answer 3

Answer may vary

Question 4

Tunes tend to be:

A) long and elaborate.
B) simple and easily singable.
C) experienced separately from rhythm.
D) complex structures.

Question 5

An organized series of pitches played or sung in a certain rhythm is called a:

A) melody.
B) phrase.
C) scale.
D) sequence.

Question 6

Define interval and octave.Why do certain pitches seem to have a lot in common? Explain the "duplicating" segments that occur throughout the entire range of pitches found in nature.

Question 7

The shortest identifiable melodic fragment is called a:

A) half step.
B) motive.
C) phrase.
D) tune.

Question 8

A scale consists of:

A) all the sounds that exist in nature.
B) all the white keys on the piano.
C) a collection of fixed pitches.
D) all the white and black keys on the piano.

Question 9

A melodic pattern of pitches that is repeated at different pitch levels is called a:

A) chord.
B) key change.
C) phrase.
D) sequence.

Question 10

The most general term for the basic subject matter of a piece of music is:

A) phrase.
B) tune.
C) theme.
D) melody.

Question 11

The moments at the ends of phrases where a melody pauses or stops altogether are called:

A) climaxes.
B) cadences.
C) contrasts.
D) balances.

Question 12

The chromatic scale consists of:

A) half steps.
B) whole steps.
C) a certain combination of half steps and whole steps.
D) a variable number of half steps and whole steps.

Question 13

The distance between two pitches that seem to duplicate each other and blend very well together is called:

A) diatonic.
B) a scale.
C) an octave.
D) chromatic.

Question 14

Most tunes have a high point.The musical term for this is:

A) modulation.
B) cadence.
C) climax.
D) theme.

Question 15

Define the term scale.

Question 16

The set of seven pitches used in Western music is called a(n):

A) chromatic scale.
B) octave.
C) interval.
D) diatonic scale.

Question 17

The diatonic scale consists of:

A) a particular arrangement of whole steps and half steps.
B) a variable number of whole steps and half steps.
C) all half steps.
D) all whole steps.

Question 18

An interval is:

A) the pitch range of an instrument or voice.
B) the distance or difference between two pitches.
C) a segment of vibrating string on a violin, viola, cello, or bass.
D) the time it takes to perform one tune.

Question 19

Motives are by definition:

A) brief.
B) elaborate.
C) harmonic.
D) parallel.

Question 20

In songs,musical phrases generally coincide with:

A) the meter.
B) lines of poetry.
C) sequences.
D) dynamic changes.

Question 21

What is a phrase,and what is meant by "balance between phrases"?

Question 22

Define climax and cadence,and discuss the difference between them.

Question 23

Name one of the most famous motives in all music.How does motive differ from theme in music?

Question 24

Explain the difference between melody and tune.

Question 25

Discuss how balance between phrases can be achieved through parallelism and contrast.

Question 26

Describe a few ways in which melody can convey an emotional effect.