Pitch (8-16)

On a guitar, if you half the length of the string, how does that affect the pitch compared to the original string length?

The new pitch is twice as high.

What is the interval between one A note and the next higher or lower A note?

An octave

What is the smallest interval in Western music, sometimes referred to as a semitone?

Half step

Two half steps make a…?

Whole step

Which term describes a sequence of pitches in ascending/descending order?

A scale

The notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, are all what kind of notes?

Natural notes

What is the distance between A-natural and A-sharp (A#)?

One half-step raised

What is the distance between A-natural and A-flat (Ab)?

One half-step lowered

Which term describes a set of five horizontal lines to indicate pitch?

Staff

Which word is French for key, helping read lines and spaces of the staff?

Clef

The treble clef is sometimes referred to as the…?

G-clef

On a treble clef, which of the five lines on a staff does the G pitch go?

Second line from bottom

The bass clef is often referred to as the…?

F-clef

Where is the F pitch on a staff with the bass clef?

Second line from top

Which clef is the ONLY movable clef?

C-clef

On an alto clef, where is the C pitch placed on the staff?

The third line

On a tenor clef, where is the pitch placed on the staff?

The second line from the top

Which term describes two bracketed staves (plural for staff)

Grand Staff

On a grand staff, which hand plays the lower staff?

Left

On a grand staff, which hand plays the upper staff?

Right

On a grand staff, which clef is typically on the lower staff?

Bass clef

On a grand staff, which clef is typically on the upper staff?

Treble clef

Which term describes the lowest A-note that can be produced, around 110Hz?

The fundamental

Any note above the fundamental (A-110) is referred to as…?

A partial/overtone

Which scale uses the twelve pitches of an octave in ascending order?

Chromatic scale

What is the chromatic scale, starting from C?

C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B

Which term describes two different labels for the same key? (Example: F# and Gb)

Enharmonic pitches

In older tuning systems, which two notes are NOT enharmonic and differ slightly in their hertz?

Eb and D#

A D## is the same as…?

E natural

An Abb is the same as…?

G natural

Which scale involves seven pitches arranged in ascending order?

Diatonic scale

Which tone is the seventh scale degree of a major that “leads” or resolves upward to the next octave?

Leading tone

Which pitch is the first scale degree?

Tonic pitch

What is the fifth scale degree that sets melodies in motion by pulling them away from the tonic pitch?

Dominant pitch

The tonic pitch is sometimes referred to as…?

The resting tone

In a C major scale, what is the dominant pitch?

G natural

Augmented fourth (aug4) and diminished fifth (d5) are synonymous with which other term?

Tritone (TT)

What is the interval of a major third (M3) in half steps?

4 half steps

What is the order of intervals, ending at the octave?

Half step, whole step, minor third, major third, perfect fourth, tritone, perfect fifth, minor sixth, major sixth, minor seventh, major seventh, octave

How many half steps is a minor tenth?

15 half steps

Which term describes a succession of whole and half steps?

Scale

In musical notation, how are whole steps modeled?

Square brackets

In musical notation, how are half steps modeled?

Upside-down open triangles

What is the sequence of intervals for a major scale, using w for a whole step and h for a half step?

w-w-h-w-w-w-h

True or False: the sequence of whole and half steps will be the same in every major scale, regardless of starting pitch

True

How many types of minor scales are there?

Three

In a major scale, the interval between the tonic and third scale degree is a major third. What is that interval in a minor scale?

Minor third

What is the whole and half step pattern for a natural minor scale?

w-h-w-w-h-w-w

How do you convert a natural minor scale into harmonic minor?

Raise the seventh scale degree by one half step

How do you convert a natural minor scale into melodic minor?

Raise the sixth and seventh scale degree by a half step

What does it mean when two scales are relative to each other?

They use the same pitches, but have different tonics

C Natural Minor and Eb Major are _____ to each other.

Relative

What does it mean when two scales are parallel to one another>

They start and end on the same tonic pitch

A scale with _________ combines elements of both major and minor scales.

Blues inflections

In a blues scale, which two scale degrees can be lowered?

Third and seventh

In a blues scale, which scale degree can be lowered, but is extremely uncommon?

Fifth

Which term describes a series of successive pitches perceived by the ear to form a coherent whole?

Melody

Harmony or counterpoint occurs when…?

Two pitches occur simultaneously

How many major scales are there

15

What does it mean to transpose a melody?

Change the key signature

Which term describes the shape of a melody over time?

Contour

“Row, Row, Row Your Boat” is a familiar tune using what kind of motion

Conjunct

In “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” the entire piece uses a conjunct motion except which lyric?

“merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily”

If a melody contains intervals larger than a major second (whole step), what type of motion is it?

Disjunct

A very common contour for melodies is that of an ____.

Arch

Which term describes an instrument’s range of playable pitches?

Register

Which term describes a general range of pitches found in a melody or vocal part?

Tessitura

A soprano is…?

Female w/high tessitura

An alto is….?

Female w/low tessitura

A tenor is…?

Male w/high tessitura

A bass is…?

Male w/low tessitura