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Music Theory: Keys, Intervals and Chords

Key signatures, scales, intervals, triads, seventh chords, cadences and time signatures. For AP Music Theory and ABRSM or RCM theory prep.

by Kill h.15 questionsCreated Nov 8, 2026, 08:03 PM

Music· Music Theory#musictheory#apmusic#chords#scales

15 questions

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1
What is the pattern of whole (W) and half (H) steps in a major scale?
- W W H W W W H
- B
  W H W W H W W
- C
  W W W H W W H
- D
  H W W W H W W
Play C to C on the white keys: the half steps fall between E-F and B-C. W H W W H W W is the natural minor scale.
2
How many sharps are in the key of D major?
- A
  One
- Two
- C
  Three
- D
  Four
D major has F# and C#. Each step clockwise around the circle of fifths adds one sharp: C (0), G (1), D (2), A (3).
3
A key signature has three flats: B♭, E♭ and A♭. Which major key is it?
- A
  F major
- B
  B♭ major
- C
  A♭ major
- E♭ major
For flat keys, the second-to-last flat names the key: B♭, E♭, A♭ → E♭ major. Its relative minor is C minor.
4
What is the order of sharps in a key signature?
- A
  B E A D G C F
- F C G D A E B
- C
  C G D A E B F
- D
  F G A B C D E
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle. The order of flats is the reverse: B E A D G C F.
5
What is the relative minor of G major?
- A
  G minor
- B
  D minor
- E minor
- D
  B minor
The relative minor starts on the 6th degree of the major scale (or 3 half steps down): G → E. G minor is the PARALLEL minor (same tonic, different key signature).
6
What interval is C up to G?
- Perfect fifth
- B
  Perfect fourth
- C
  Major sixth
- D
  Major third
C-D-E-F-G spans five letter names and 7 half steps: a perfect fifth. C up to F (5 half steps) is a perfect fourth.
7
C up to E♭ is 3 half steps. What is this interval?
- A
  Major second
- B
  Major third
- Minor third
- D
  Augmented second
C to E is a major third (4 half steps), so lowering the top note gives a minor third (3). D# would also be 3 half steps, but C-D# spans only two letter names, which makes it an augmented second.
8
Which notes make up an A minor triad?
- A
  A C# E
- A C E
- C
  A C E♭
- D
  A D E
Minor triad = root + minor third + perfect fifth. A C# E is A major, A C E♭ is A diminished, and A D E is a suspended chord.
9
In C major, which chord is the dominant seventh (V7)?
- G B D F
- B
  G B D F#
- C
  F A C E
- D
  C E G B♭
Build a seventh chord on the 5th scale degree (G) using only notes from C major: G B D F. G B D F# is a major seventh chord, which is not diatonic as V7.
10
Which triad in a major key is diminished?
- A
  ii
- B
  iii
- C
  IV
- vii°
In major: I, IV, V are major; ii, iii, vi are minor; vii° is diminished (B D F in C major).
11
A phrase ends with the progression IV → I, the 'Amen' sound in hymns. This is a(n):
- A
  Authentic cadence
- B
  Half cadence
- C
  Deceptive cadence
- Plagal cadence
Plagal = IV-I. Authentic = V-I, half = ends on V, and deceptive = V-vi (it 'fakes out' the ear).
12
In 4/4 time, how many beats does a dotted half note get?
- A
  2
- B
  2.5
- 3
- D
  4
A dot adds half the note's value: half note (2) + 1 = 3 beats.
13
6/8 time is usually felt as:
- A
  Six quarter-note beats per measure
- Two beats per measure, each divided into three eighth notes (compound duple)
- C
  Three beats per measure, each divided into two (simple triple)
- D
  Eight beats per measure
6/8 groups eighth notes in two sets of three, giving two dotted-quarter beats. 3/4 has the same number of eighth notes but is felt in three.
14
Which tempo marking is the slowest?
- A
  Allegro
- B
  Andante
- C
  Moderato
- Adagio
From slow to fast: Adagio, Andante (walking pace), Moderato, Allegro. Andante is often mistaken for slow, but it is a moderate walking tempo.
15
How many half steps are in an octave?
- A
  7
- B
  8
- 12
- D
  13
There are 12 distinct pitches before the note name repeats. 8 is the number of scale notes counted from C to C, and 7 is the number of distinct letter names.