Music Theory for 8th Graders: Master the Basics of Music

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of a major scale?

Accepted Answer

C major

Answer

D minor

Answer

F# major

Answer

G# minor

Question 2

Which of the following chords is a major triad?

Accepted Answer

C major

Answer

D minor

Answer

G augmented

Answer

F diminished

Question 3

What is the term for a series of notes that move stepwise, either ascending or descending?

Accepted Answer

Scale

Answer

Interval

Answer

Arpeggio

Answer

Cadence

Question 4

Which symbol is used to indicate a flat note in musical notation?

Accepted Answer

b

Answer

#

Answer

n

Answer

s

Question 5

What is the term for a group of three or more notes played together?

Accepted Answer

Chord

Answer

Interval

Answer

Scale

Answer

Arpeggio

Question 6

Which of the following intervals is considered dissonant?

Accepted Answer

Major seventh

Answer

Major second

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Perfect fifth

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of a major triad?

Accepted Answer

C-E-G

Answer

C-Eb-G

Answer

C-F-Ab

Answer

C-Gb-Bb

Question 8

What musical element indicates the pace of a musical composition?

Accepted Answer

Tempo

Answer

Dynamics

Answer

Rhythm

Answer

Harmony

Question 9

What is the term for a melodic pattern that gradually descends from a high note?

Accepted Answer

Descending scale

Answer

Arpeggiation

Answer

Sequence

Answer

Cadence

Question 10

Which time signature is considered compound?

Accepted Answer

6/8

Answer

4/4

Answer

3/4

Answer

5/4

Question 11

What is the technique of adding accidentals to a scale to create variations called?

Accepted Answer

Chromaticism

Answer

Modulation

Answer

Transposition

Answer

Inversion

Question 12

Which musical form typically follows an AABA structure?

Accepted Answer

Rondo

Answer

Sonata

Answer

Minuet

Answer

Symphony

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a type of musical interval?

Accepted Answer

Chord

Answer

Major

Answer

Minor

Answer

Tritone

Question 14

Which of the following is not a primary chord in a key?

Accepted Answer

Diminished seventh

Answer

Tonic

Answer

Dominant

Answer

Subdominant

Question 15

In a piece of music with four beats per measure and a quarter note receiving one beat, what is the time signature?

Accepted Answer

4/4

Answer

2/4

Answer

3/4

Question 16

At the bottom of a grand staff, what pitch is found?

Accepted Answer

A0

Answer

G2

Answer

F4

Question 17

Which of the following is not a type of articulation?

Accepted Answer

Vibrato

Answer

Legato

Answer

Staccato

Question 18

What is the name of the symbol used to indicate a note that is not sharpened or flattened?

Accepted Answer

Natural sign

Answer

Sharp

Answer

Flat

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of musical scale?

Accepted Answer

Chromatic scale

Answer

Major scale

Answer

Minor scale

Answer

Whole tone scale

Question 20

Which of the following is a triad chord?

Accepted Answer

Major triad

Answer

Major 7th

Answer

Minor 6th

Answer

Diminished 5th

Question 21

What time signature indicates a piece with 4 beats per measure, where a quarter note receives one beat?

Accepted Answer

4/4

Answer

2/4

Answer

3/4

Answer

6/8

Question 22

Which symbol represents a sharp note?

Accepted Answer

#

Answer

b

Answer

@

Answer

~

Question 23

What is the key signature of a musical piece written in the key of G major?

Accepted Answer

One sharp (F#)

Answer

One flat (F)

Answer

Two sharps (F#, C#)

Answer

Two flats (Bb, Eb)

Question 24

What is the difference between a half step and a whole step?

Accepted Answer

A half step is one note higher, while a whole step is two notes higher.

Answer

A half step is two notes higher, while a whole step is one note higher.

Question 25

Which of the following is a term used to describe the distance between two notes?

Accepted Answer

Interval

Answer

Scale

Answer

Chord

Answer

Key signature

Question 26

What is the name of the symbol used to indicate a natural (unsharpened or unflattened) note?

Accepted Answer

Natural (♮)

Answer

Sharp (#)

Answer

Flat (b)

Answer

Double sharp (##)

Question 27

Which interval is considered a perfect interval?

Accepted Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major second

Answer

Minor third

Question 28

Which musical term indicates a gradual increase in loudness?

Accepted Answer

Crescendo

Answer

Diminuendo

Answer

Forte

Answer

Piano

Question 29

Which musical texture features two or more distinct melodies played at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Polyphonic

Answer

Monophonic

Answer

Homophonic

Question 30

Which interval is considered dissonant?

Accepted Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Major second

Answer

Perfect fourth

Question 31

Which scale uses a series of whole steps?

Accepted Answer

Whole tone scale

Answer

Chromatic scale

Answer

Minor scale

Answer

Major scale

Question 32

What is the interval formed by the first and fifth notes in a major scale?

Accepted Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor sixth

Question 33

Which type of chord is built by stacking major thirds?

Accepted Answer

Major chord

Answer

Minor chord

Answer

Seventh chord

Answer

Suspended chord

Question 34

Which of the following intervals is considered dissonant?

Accepted Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Major second

Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Major third

Question 35

What term describes a series of notes moving in the same direction?

Accepted Answer

Sequence

Answer

Scale

Answer

Leap

Answer

Arpeggio

Question 36

Which element of musical notation indicates the duration of notes?

Accepted Answer

Time signature

Answer

Clef

Answer

Key signature

Answer

Articulation marks

Question 37

What is the primary purpose of a key signature?

Accepted Answer

To indicate the key of a piece of music

Answer

To provide a visual representation of the scale

Answer

To specify the starting note of the melody

Answer

To indicate the tempo of the music

Question 38

What is the name for the interval between the root and the third note in a major scale?

Accepted Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor second

Answer

Major second

Answer

Minor third

Question 39

Which type of chord contains only three notes?

Accepted Answer

Major triad

Answer

Major 7th

Answer

Minor 9th

Answer

Dominant 13th

Question 40

In a musical time signature, what does a '3' indicate?

Accepted Answer

The number of beats per measure

Answer

The note value of each beat

Answer

The type of meter

Answer

The key of the piece

Question 41

What is the name of the musical interval that spans twelve half-steps?

Accepted Answer

Octave

Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major seventh

Question 42

What musical element determines how loud or soft a sound is?

Accepted Answer

Dynamics

Answer

Tempo

Answer

Timbre

Answer

Articulation

Question 43

Which type of scale has a half-step between the third and fourth notes?

Accepted Answer

Minor scale

Answer

Major scale

Answer

Pentatonic scale

Answer

Blues scale

Question 44

Which musical term describes the arrangement of musical ideas into distinct sections?

Accepted Answer

Form

Answer

Meter

Answer

Phrasing

Answer

Harmony

Question 45

Which interval involves a change of one semitone?

Accepted Answer

Minor second

Answer

Major second

Answer

Major third

Answer

Minor third

Question 46

What is the foundation note of a C major chord?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

E

Answer

G

Answer

A

Question 47

What is the interval between F and A#?

Accepted Answer

Augmented fourth

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major third

Answer

Perfect fourth

Question 48

Which triad type features a diminished fifth?

Accepted Answer

Diminished triad

Answer

Major triad

Answer

Minor triad

Answer

Augmented triad

Question 49

Which scale pattern consists of whole and half steps in the following order: W-W-H-W-W-W-H?

Accepted Answer

Major scale

Answer

Minor scale

Answer

Pentatonic scale

Answer

Chromatic scale

Question 50

Which interval creates a sense of tension and instability?

Accepted Answer

Minor seventh

Answer

Major second

Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Unison

Question 51

What is the name of the chord consisting of the notes C, E, and G#?

Accepted Answer

C augmented

Answer

C major

Answer

C minor

Answer

C diminished

Question 52

Which characteristic is unique to the blues scale?

Accepted Answer

Flattened third

Answer

Raised fifth

Answer

Lowered seventh

Answer

Added ninth

Question 53

What term describes the arrangement of notes stacked vertically in a chord?

Accepted Answer

Voicing

Answer

Interval

Answer

Harmony

Answer

Progression

Question 54

What interval exists between the notes C and G?

Accepted Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Minor second

Answer

Major second

Answer

Minor seventh

Question 55

Which of these chords is a triad?

Accepted Answer

C major

Answer

C7

Answer

Cmaj9

Answer

Csus4

Question 56

What term describes a series of notes played in succession?

Accepted Answer

Melody

Answer

Harmony

Answer

Rhythm

Answer

Dynamics

Question 57

In musical terminology, what does the Italian term 'Forte' mean?

Accepted Answer

Loud

Answer

Soft

Answer

Increase volume

Answer

Decrease volume

Question 58

For writing vocal music, which staff is typically used?

Accepted Answer

Treble clef

Answer

Bass clef

Answer

Alto clef

Answer

Tenor clef

Question 59

Which musical period is characterized by the use of counterpoint?

Accepted Answer

Baroque

Answer

Classical

Answer

Romantic

Answer

Impressionist

Question 60

Which instrument is commonly used to accompany singing?

Accepted Answer

Piano

Answer

Guitar

Answer

Drums

Answer

Violin

Question 61

What is the interval between the notes C and G?

Accepted Answer

Perfect fifth

Answer

Minor third

Answer

Major sixth

Answer

Minor seventh

Question 62

What is the enharmonic equivalent of the note Gb?

Accepted Answer

F#

Answer

Ab

Answer

G#

Answer

A

Question 63

What is the time signature of a piece of music with two beats per measure and a quarter note receiving one beat?

Accepted Answer

2/4

Answer

3/4

Answer

4/4

Answer

6/8