Music Theory: Chapter 4: Introduction to Triads and Seventh Chords; Inversion; Chord Symbols and Figured Bass

harmony

The general effect of several musical lines in combination; any single combination of sounds, a chord

harmonic interval

Two simultaneous pitches produce this, not a chord

Voice

A single musical line or part and does not necessarily imply that the part is vocal rather than instrumental

True

T/F: Major and minor triads have the greatest stability

resolution

Major and minor triads have traditionally served as points of musical __________, appearing at the ends of compositions or sections within compositions.

P5

Stability is directly reated to intervallic makeup. What interval makes the Major and minor triads stable, as opposed to augmented and diminished triads?

seventh chord

When a seventh is placed above the root of a triad, a _______ _____ is formed.

dominant seventh chord

This chord is formed when a minor seventh is added above the root of a major triad

Root position

The chord root in the lowest voice

first inversion

the third of the choird is in the lowest voice

second inversion

If the fifth of the chord is in the lowest position

highest

It makes no difference with pitch occupies the _______ position in the chordal structure. The inversion is determined solely by the lowest pitch.

lowest

It makes no difference with pitch occupies the highest position in the chordal structure. The inversion is determined solely by the _____ pitch.

doubled

When a triad is distribted among four voices one of the chord members is _______, it is represented twice in the chord (usually different octaves)

root position

What position/inversion is most stable for major and minor triads?

Chord symbols

These are used to show a chord’s root, type, and inversion

figured bass

The numberical method of symbolizing chords is derived from a seventeenth and eighteenth century practice; a system of musical shorthand devised for keyboard parts, consisting of a bass line along with numbers below the notes to indicate the intervals to be added above

1. read

2. Realize

Should be able to do these two things with figured bass

rhythm section

basso continuo is the common practice period ______ _______. played by a harpsichord or cello

1. inversion

2. presence of a seventh

3. alter a pitch

4. quality of a chord

5. certain non chord tones

The figures in figured bass show these five things:

outisde

When a chord falls _______ the key, accidentals are added to the figure if needed.

third

An accidental by itself applies to the _____ above the bass (not the root of the chord)

slash

This marking in figured bass means to raise the pitch