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Introduction to Music Theory/What is Music Theory?/Diagnostic Exam

From Wikiversity

This exam contains 20 questions. Now, I know that you can obviously use the Internet to look up these answers, but that really will not help you in the long run. I want you to be completely truthful, and answer what you know to the best of your abilities. This exam shows me and yourself where you are musically, and where we might be able to focus more. You can print out the sheet paper here to answer your questions, scan it back on your computer, and send it to musictheory12@yahoo.com. Afterwards, you will receive a short message with more information.

1. Write the following notes in the treble clef.

  • F on a line
  • A in a space
  • G on a line
  • C in a space
  • E on a line
  • F in a space
  • B on a line
  • D in a space
  • G in a space
  • Middle C

2. Write the following notes in the bass clef.

  • B in a space
  • F on a line
  • Middle C
  • A on a line
  • E in a space
  • D on a line
  • G in a space
  • F in a space
  • G on a line
  • C in a space

3. Complete the following sentences.

  • 2 quarter notes = ___________ eighth note(s)
  • 1 half note = ___________ quarter note(s)
  • 3 eighth notes = _____________ sixteenth note(s)
  • 1 quarter note = _____________ sixteenth note(s)
  • 2 eighth notes = _____________ quarter note(s)
  • 4 sixteenth notes = ____________ eighth note(s)
  • 2 half notes = __________ whole note(s)
  • 1 whole note = __________ eighth note(s)
  • 4 thirty-second notes = ______________ sixteenth note(s)
  • 2 sixteenth notes = _______________ eighth note(s)
  • A dotted quarter note = ________________ eighth note(s)
  • 3 half notes = _______________ whole note(s)
  • A dotted half note = ________________ eighth note(s)
  • 6 sixteenth notes = _______________ thirty-second note(s)
  • A dotted half note = ________________ quarter note(s)

4. Give another name for each of these notes.

  • F Sharp
  • B Flat
  • C
  • A Flat
  • F
  • D Sharp
  • D Flat

5. Fill in the blanks in the following statements.

  • To raise a natural one semitone, you use a __________.
  • To lower a sharp one semitone, you use a __________.
  • To lower a natural two semitones, you use a __________.
  • To raise a flat one semitone, you use a __________.
  • To lower a natural one semitone, you use a __________.
  • To raise a flat two semitones, you use a __________.
  • To raise a sharp one semitone, you use a __________.
  • To lower a sharp two semitones, you use a __________.
  • To lower a flat one semitone, you use a __________.
  • To raise a natural two semitones, you use a __________.

6. Write these scales in the treble clef ascending only, using accidentals instead of a key signature. Mark each semitone with a slur, and label the Tonic and Dominant notes.

  • A major in half notes.
  • G major in dotted quarter notes.
  • F major in pairs of eighth notes.
  • E Flat major in whole notes.

7. Write these key signatures in the treble clef.

  • A Flat major
  • E major
  • B Flat major
  • D major

8. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences.

  • The key signature of D major is __________.
  • The Tonic of E Flat major is __________.
  • The key signature of A Flat major is __________.
  • The key that has three sharps is __________.
  • One sharp is the key signature of __________ major.
  • The key that has two flats is __________.
  • The order of the first four sharps is __________.
  • Semitones occur between __________ and __________ and __________ and __________ in every major scale.
  • The Dominant of C major is __________.
  • The names of the flats in E Flat major are __________.
  • The key signature of E major is __________.
  • D is the Dominant of __________ major.
  • The key that has four flats is __________.
  • The fifth note of any scale is called the __________.
  • A scale can be divided into two __________.
  • F is the Dominant of __________ major.
  • One flat is the key signature of __________ major.
  • The order of tones and semitones in every major scale is __________.
  • E Flat is the tonic of __________ major.
  • The key that has no sharps or flats is __________ major.

9. Write these notes in the bass clef, using accidentals instead of a key signature.

  • The Leading note of A major
  • The Supertonic of G Flat major
  • The Dominant of E major
  • The Submediant of B Flat major
  • The Mediant of C Sharp major
  • The Leading note of B major
  • The Submediant of C major
  • The Supertonic of D major
  • The Tonic of F Sharp major
  • The Subdominant of G major

10. List the order of flats as they appear in a key signature.

11. Write these scales ascending and descending in the bass clef. Use the correct key signature for each, and mark the semitones with a slur.

  • F Sharp major in dotted quarter notes.
  • D Flat major in whole notes.
  • C Flat major in sixteenth notes.

12. Write these scales in the tenor clef, descending only. Use the correct key signature for each, and mark the semitones with a slur.

  • C major
  • E major
  • G major
  • A major
  • D Flat major
  • F Sharp major
  • A Flat major

13. Write these scales in the alto clef for one octave, ascending and descending. Use the correct key signature, and mark the semitones with a slur.

  • A Flat major, from Dominant to Dominant.
  • F Sharp major, from Leading note to Leading note.
  • G Flat major, from Supertonic to Supertonic.
  • B major, from Subdominant to Subdominant.
  • A major, from Submediant to Submediant.

14. Name the relative minor of the following major keys.

  • A major
  • E Flat major
  • F major
  • E major
  • G major
  • B Flat major

15. Write these scales in the bass clef, ascending and descending. Use accidentals instead of a key signature.

  • D minor melodic
  • E minor melodic
  • C minor melodic
  • F Sharp minor melodic

16. Write these scales in the treble clef, ascending and descending. Use accidentals instead of a key signature, and mark the semitones with a slur.

  • E minor harmonic
  • D minor harmonic
  • F Sharp minor harmonic
  • C minor harmonic

17. Write these scales in the treble clef, ascending and descending using accidentals instead of a key signature. Mark the semitones with a slur.

  • A Sharp minor melodic
  • The melodic minor scale whose relative major is G Flat
  • The melodic minor scale whose key signature is five sharps

18. Write these scales ascending and descending in the bass clef. Use the correct key signature for each, and mark the semitones with a slur.

  • G Sharp minor melodic, from Dominant to Dominant
  • C Sharp minor harmonic, from Subdominant to Subdominant
  • E minor harmonic, from Dominant to Dominant
  • B Flat minor melodic, from Tonic to Tonic
  • F Sharp minor harmonic, from Subdominant to Subdominant

19. Write these scales in the tenor clef, ascending and descending, using the correct key signature for each.

  • The major scale whose key signature is six sharps
  • its relative minor, harmonic
  • its tonic minor, melodic

20. Write these scales in the treble clef.

  • The harmonic chromatic scale of G, without using a key signature
  • The harmonic chromatic scale of F, using the correct key signature
  • The melodic chromatic scale of F sharp.