Music Composition Flashcards
What is syncopated rhythm?
Unexpected beats that deviate from the regularly spaced beats
What is harmony?
Two notes playing together at different intervals
What is a semi-tone?
Each note gap
What is a tone?
Made up of two semitones i.e. C to D
What is a tonic?
The note of the key of a track
What are the four types of triads in music theory?
Major, Minor, Diminished, and Augmented.
What is a time signature in music?
A time signature is a notational convention that specifies how many beats are in each measure and what note value is equivalent to a beat.
True or False: The top number in a time signature indicates the number of beats in a measure.
True
Fill in the blank: In a 4/4 time signature, the bottom number indicates that a _____ note receives one beat.
quarter
What does the time signature 3/4 represent?
It represents three beats per measure with the quarter note receiving one beat.
Which of the following is a compound time signature? A) 4/4 B) 6/8 C) 3/2
B) 6/8
What is the difference between simple and compound time signatures?
Simple time signatures divide beats into two equal parts, while compound time signatures divide beats into three equal parts.
True or False: A time signature can change within a piece of music.
True
In a 5/4 time signature, how many beats are in each measure?
Five beats
What is the most common time signature used in popular music?
4/4
Multiple Choice: Which time signature is commonly associated with waltzes? A) 4/4 B) 3/4 C) 2/4
B) 3/4
What is a crotchet also known as?
A quarter note.
True or False: A minim is worth two beats.
True.
Fill in the blank: A semibreve is worth ______ beats.
four.
Which note is represented by a filled-in oval with a stem?
Crotchet.
What is the duration of a quaver?
Half a beat.
Multiple Choice: How many beats does a minim receive?
2 beats.
What is the symbol for a semiquaver?
A filled-in note with a stem and two flags.
True or False: A dotted note increases the duration of the note by half.
True.
Short Answer: Name the four basic rhythmic note values.
Crotchet, minim, semibreve, quaver.
What is the time signature that commonly uses crotchets as the beat?
4/4 time signature.
What are the four types of triads in music theory?
Major, minor, diminished, and augmented.
True or False: A major triad consists of a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth.
True.
Fill in the blank: A minor triad consists of a root, a _____ third, and a perfect fifth.
minor
Which type of triad has a root, a minor third, and a diminished fifth?
Diminished triad.
What is the interval structure of an augmented triad?
Root, major third, and augmented fifth.
Multiple choice: Which triad is characterized by a root, a major third, and an augmented fifth? A) Major B) Minor C) Augmented D) Diminished
C) Augmented.
What is the defining characteristic of a major triad?
It has a major third interval above the root.
Fill in the blank: The _____ triad has a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth.
minor
Short answer: Describe the differences between a diminished triad and an augmented triad.
A diminished triad has a minor third and a diminished fifth, while an augmented triad has a major third and an augmented fifth.
What is the pattern for the Major Scale?
Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half
2-2-1-2-2-2-1
The pattern of semitones is 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1.
What is the pattern for the Natural Minor Scale?
Whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole
2-1-2-2-1-2-2
What is the pattern of whole and half steps in the harmonic minor scale?
whole, half, whole, whole, half, augmented second, half.
2-1-2-2-1-3-2-1
Fill in the blank: The harmonic minor scale is derived from the ___ scale.
natural minor.
What is the interval between the sixth and seventh degrees in the harmonic minor scale?
Augmented second.
Multiple Choice: Which note is raised in the harmonic minor scale compared to the natural minor scale?
C) 7th.
What is the formula for the ascending melodic minor scale?
W H W W W W H
2-1-2-2-2-2-1
1,2,b3,4,5,6,7
True or False: The descending form of the melodic minor scale is the same as the natural minor scale.
True
Fill in the blank: The ascending melodic minor scale raises the _______ and _______ degrees compared to the natural minor scale.
6th, 7th
What is the seventh degree of the C melodic minor scale when ascending?
B natural
What is the descending formula for the melodic minor scale?
W W H W W H W
2-2-1-2-2-1-2
What is a major triad chord made up of?
Major 3rd and perfect 5th (Maj3 and min3)
What is a minor triad chord made up of?
Minor third and perfect 5th (Min 3, Maj 3)
What is a major 7th chord made up of?
Major third, perfect fith, major 7th (Maj 3, min 3, maj 3)
What is a minor 7th chord made up of?
Minor third, perfect 5th, minor 7th (Min 3, maj 3, min 3)
What is a minor with major 7th chord made up of?
Minor 3rd, perfect fifth, major 7th (Min 3, Maj 3, Maj 3)
What is a dominant 7th chord made up of?
It has a minor 7th. So its Maj 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th (Maj3, Min 3, MIn 3)
What is a diminished chord?
A chord that has a minor third and a diminished 5th (min3, min3)
What is an augmented chord?
A chord formed of two major stack (maj3, maj3)
What is a sus2 chord?
The minor or major third is suspended (maj 2, perfect 4th)
How do i find the relative minor key of a tonic?
The 6th note in the scale
What is a slash chord?
A chord with a different bass note to the root note of the chord (usually has a note not used in the chord)
What is a C9 chord
a C7 (dominant 7th) chord with a 9th in it
Difference between a C9, Cmaj9 and Cmaj add 9chord
C9 is derrived from the dominant 7th chord (a flattened 7th) and Cmaj9 is derrived from the Cmaj7 chord, and Cadd9 does not have a 7th.
What is a sus3 chord?
The third note is replaced by a perfect fourth (perfect 4th, major 2nd)
Dorian Mode Formula
DORIAN - (R) T S T T T S T
Phrygian formula
R S T T T S T T
Lydian
LYDIAN - R T T T S T T S
Mixolydian
MIXOLYDIAN - R T T S T T S T
