Harmony (chords) & Tonality (key)

Question 1

Diatonic

Answer 1

Using Major and Minor Keys.

Question 2

Functional Harmony

Answer 2

(I, IV & V)

Question 3

Atonal

Answer 3

No ‘traditional’ sense of key. Perhaps it uses Tone Row, hexachords etc.

Question 4

Modal

Answer 4

Used in Hymns and stuff

Question 5

Pentatonic

Answer 5

(five note scale)

Question 6

• Whole Tone

Answer 6

A whole tone scale contains six notes and is made up entirely of whole-steps. For example: C–D–E–F♯–G♯–A♯. Since the interval between each note of the whole tone scale is exactly the same, it is considered a symmetrical scale

Question 7

Altered Chords/Extended Note Harmony

Answer 7

i.e. 9ths, 13ths, etc.

Question 8

• Diminished 7th Chords

Answer 8

With respect to the root, all diminished seventh chords consist of a minor third, diminished fifth and diminished seventh. This means that all notes are a minor third apart (eg. C-E♭, E♭-G♭, G♭-B♭♭).

Question 9

Neapolitan 6th

Answer 9

The Neapolitan 6th is a chromatic chord built on the flattened supertonic of a key.
It is predominantly written in its 1st inversion and has a very distinctive sound.

For example, in the key of C major and C minor the Neapolitan sixth would be a D flat chord in its 1st inversion:

Question 10

• Augmented 6ths (Italian, French, German)

Answer 10

Augmented 6th chords are chromatic chords that are built upon the interval of a major 3rd and an augmented 6th. They are very useful in modulation to different keys and have been used in various forms since the Renaissance period.

Question 11

• False Relation

Answer 11

A false relation is a type of dissonance that occurs in Renaissance music. It is a harmonic clash that happens when a note in one part is played or sung at the same or immediately before or after a chromatically altered version of the same note in another part.

Question 12

Harmonic Rhythm

Answer 12

The rate at which a chord progression changes

Question 13

Tertiary relationships

Answer 13

keys a third apart

Question 14

Chromatic

Answer 14

notes not belonging to the diatonic scale of the key in which a passage is written (Defying Gravity)

Question 15

Use of a Pedal

Answer 15

Dominant pedals are common, or maybe an inner pedal which is in the middle of the texture (Long held note)

Question 16

Use of a drone

Answer 16

often a 5th in the bass, like a pedal but using more than one note

Question 17

Circle of 5ths

Answer 17

CBA

Question 18

Common related key areas

Answer 18

• From the tonic to… Dominant; Relative minor; Subdominant; Tonic Major/minor (Tertiary keys)

Question 19

CADENCES

Answer 19

Perfect V – I
Plagal IV – I
Imperfect ? – V
Interrupted V – vi
Phrygian IVb – V
Tierce De Picardy V – I (Major chord I in a Minor Key “Light after Darkness”)