Theory Quiz

It looks like it's time to spice up the Theory section again.
The following Quiz will cover a range of questions from beginner to intermediate Theory so everyone can participate if they choose.
Beginner Quiz:
1) What are the 7 notes in the "A" Major scale?

2) What is an Interval?

3) What note needs to change to make a "D" Major chord become a "D" minor chord?

4) What are the notes of the "E" Major chord?

5) What are the notes of the "C" minor chord?

6) What are the 5 notes in the "E" minor Pentatonic scale

7) What is the 5th note in the "G" Major scale?

Intermediate Quiz
1) What is the 3rd chord in the key of "G"?

2) What is the "V of V" when the Root note is "A"?

3) What note(s) need to change in the Major scale to make the Dorian mode?

4) What is the Parallel minor to "F#" Major?

5) What are the notes in the "A" Mixolydian mode?

6) What is the Parent scale to the G# Locrian mode?

7) Name "3" Major chords in the key of "E".

intermediate:
1. Bmin
2.Bmaj
3.flat 3rd and 7th
4.F#minor
5.(im assuming your talking about the mixolydian in paralell form) so...A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A
6.Amaj
7.E, A, B

Intermediate Quiz
1) What is the 3rd chord in the key of "G"?
B minor

2) What is the "V of V" when the Root note is "A"?
B major

3) What note(s) need to change in the Major scale to make the Dorian mode?
drop third a half step, drop seventh a half step

4) What is the Parallel minor to "F#" Major?
D# minor...technically...typically you'd call it Gb major and Eb minor I believe

5) What are the notes in the "A" Mixolydian mode?
A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G-A

6) What is the Parent scale to the G# Locrian mode?
Parent scales are too easily misinterpreted as "key," but the answer is F#

7) Name "3" Major chords in the key of "E".
ok: E major, A major, B major

This one could be just for Jolly.....who knows.

1. What melodic minor scale/mode would you play over a F7#11?

2. What diminished 7th chord has F# as it's b3rd?

3. Name a 7b9 chord that could be substituted for Bdim7

4. What sort of chord is made from the super locrian scale (the 7th mode of the melodic minor ascending, also called the altered scale) ?

Originally Posted by: Julian VickersThis one could be just for Jolly.....who knows.

1. What melodic minor scale/mode would you play over a F7#11?

2. What diminished 7th chord has F# as it's b3rd?

3. Name a 7b9 chord that could be substituted for Bdim7

4. What sort of chord is made from the super locrian scale (the 7th mode of the melodic minor ascending, also called the altered scale) ?

1. F7#11? Let's see... I assume you mean F dominant 7 so F-A-C-Eb and then the # 11 would be B, so right there you'd have F-A-B-C-Eb. So C melodic minor would be my guess. It works out.

2. You mean fully or half diminished? Fully is D#-F#-A-C

3. Bdim7 is B-D-F-Ab, assuming you mean fully diminished...what 7b9 chord...that's a toughie...ohhhh, I see. Ok, you need to say "enharmonically" substituted. We have Ab, which is also G#, THEN you have G#-B-D-F but wait...then there's no b9...I'm afraid I don't know... I tried working from the Ab, but there's no b9.

4. 'fraid I know absolutely NOTHING about superlocrian mode.

you got the first 2 right.

3. the notes in Bdim7 are B D F Ab

One answer would be Bb7b9:

Bb7b9 has the notes Bb D F Ab B

4. The Super Locrian scale has both a b5 and a #5 as well as a b9 and #9. the chord that can be made from it is called an altered dominant chord (eg C7alt)

C7alt can be: C7b5b9, C7b5#9, C7#5b9 and C7#5#9

How many notes are in a pentatonic scale?

Originally Posted by: Julian Vickersyou got the first 2 right.

3. the notes in Bdim7 are B D F Ab

One answer would be Bb7b9:

Bb7b9 has the notes Bb D F Ab B

4. The Super Locrian scale has both a b5 and a #5 as well as a b9 and #9. the chord that can be made from it is called an altered dominant chord (eg C7alt)

C7alt can be: C7b5b9, C7b5#9, C7#5b9 and C7#5#9

Bb7b9 has a Bb...so that wouldn't be the same... See, I thought you meant I had to use ONLY the notes from that chord.

Originally Posted by: alucard0941How many notes are in a pentatonic scale?

Answer: Pent = 5

how many notes in a diminished scale?

i have a question about "intervals".

Interval is defined as being the distance between two notes. If from C to D on the Cmaj scale is a second interval..what the heck is the first interva? I am new to theory, and trying to teach myself. I learn by reading then applying on stuff such as theory than I would in a classroom type setting.

Originally Posted by: txladykatInterval is defined as being the distance between two notes.[/quote]
Exactly. And in music intervals the basic unit of measurement is the half step (on a guitar that is a distance of one fret).
[QUOTE=txladykat]If from C to D on the Cmaj scale is a second interval..what the heck is the first interva?

The distance from C to D is two half steps or a whole step. It is called an "interval of a second", not a "second interval". The term "second" comes from scale construction.

It can be confusing because sometimes different names point to the same object. But remember the basic unit of measurement in the half step. With that in mind you can apply it to larger intervals or distances between notes.

1 half step (or 1 fret) is a minor second or flat second.
2 half-steps (or 2 frets) is a second (sometimes called a major second).
3 half-steps (or 3 frets) is a minor third or flat third.
4 half-steps (or 4 frets) is a major third.
5 half-steps (or 5 frets) is a fourth.
6 half-steps (or 6 frets) is a sharp fourth or flat fifth.
7 half-steps (or 7 frets) is a fifth.
8 half-steps (or 8 frets) is a augmented fifth or minor sixth or flat sixth.
9 half-steps (or 9 frets) is a major sixth.
10 half-steps (or 10 frets) is a minor seventh or flat seventh.
11 half-steps (or 11 frets) is a major seventh.
12 half-steps (or 12 frets) is an octave.

The trickiest part of learning to apply this idea to the guitar is that frequently the two notes you are trying to "see" the interval between are on two different strings. So, get used to learning intervals on one string, then start to apply it to multiple strings. For example, if you understand the list of intervals I wrote above, you can see that the interval between the notes G and D on the bottom E string is 7 frets, and therefore a fifth:

E |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
E |---|---|-G-|---|-A-|---|-B-|-C-|---|-D-|---|---|---|---|---|

It can more difficult to "see" the interval of a fifth if the D is on a different string, though:

E |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A |---|---|---|---|-D-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
E |---|---|-G-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

I wish you success in learning all you can about music theory and how to apply it!

not to difficult i dont think when on different strings. counting down the strings to count a whole step (two frets on the same string) you simply count back three frets (excepting the 3-2 string) correct?

Originally Posted by: Julian VickersC7alt can be: C7b5b9, C7b5#9, C7#5b9 and C7#5#9

you mean you can actually build a space rocket with that calibration??

theory depresses me :(

1. Identify the difference between an authentic, plagel, half and deceptive cadence.

2. What is the 'normal' function of the Neapolitan Chord?

3. What is the difference between a scale and a mode?

4. What is voice leading?

5. What notes are in Cmaj9add11?

6. What are the names of the I, ii, iii, IV, V, and VIIdim degrees in the major scale? ((The other names for them that relates to their 'function' so to speak. For example---I = tonic))

7. What is the primary rhythmic division in rock music? --not-- the lead melody rhythmic division, the rhythm.

Originally Posted by: PlatonicShred1. Identify the difference between an authentic, plagel, half and deceptive cadence.

2. What is the 'normal' function of the Neapolitan Chord?

3. What is the difference between a scale and a mode?

4. What is voice leading?

5. What notes are in Cmaj9add11?

6. What are the names of the I, ii, iii, IV, V, and VIIdim degrees in the major scale? ((The other names for them that relates to their 'function' so to speak. For example---I = tonic))

7. What is the primary rhythmic division in rock music? --not-- the lead melody rhythmic division, the rhythm.

1. The authentic cadence (or full cadence) is a V-I chord progression
A half cadence is a II-V or IV-V chord progression
A Plagal cadance (or modal cadence) is a IV - I chord progression
A Deceptive cadence is a V-VI chord progression

2. The neapolitan 6th chord is usually played as the first inversion of a major chord on the b2 of the major key. It can function as a II chord before going to a V.

3. A mode is a scale that is derived from a parent scale

4. Voice leading is where one plays chords with the top note of the chord suggesting a melody

5. Cmaj9add11 - C E G B D F

Random note: Cmaj9add11 is almost never used in jazz or anything, a more common chord would be Cmaj9#11

6. I = Tonic
II = Supertonic
III = Mediant
IV = Sub dominant
IV = Dominant
VI = Submediant/Superdominant
VII = Leading tone/Subtonic

7. I would go out on a limb and say 8th notes

Originally Posted by: Julian Vickers1. The authentic cadence (or full cadence) is a V-I chord progression
A half cadence is a II-V or IV-V chord progression
A Plagal cadance (or modal cadence) is a IV - I chord progression
A Deceptive cadence is a V-VI chord progression

2. The neapolitan 6th chord is usually played as the first inversion of a major chord on the b2 of the major key. It can function as a II chord before going to a V.

3. A mode is a scale that is derived from a parent scale

4. Voice leading is where one plays chords with the top note of the chord suggesting a melody

5. Cmaj9add11 - C E G B D F

Random note: Cmaj9add11 is almost never used in jazz or anything, a more common chord would be Cmaj9#11

6. I = Tonic
II = Supertonic
III = Mediant
IV = Sub dominant
IV = Dominant
VI = Submediant/Superdominant
VII = Leading tone/Subtonic

7. I would go out on a limb and say 8th notes

3. Actually, a scale is a set of notes with certain intervallic relationships, yet without a tonal center. A mode has a tonal center. This is why a given scale has several different mode. For example, the C Major scale--when taken to have C as its tonal center--becomes C Ionian. So, a mode is a scale that has a tonal center.

5. Fair enough. I'm not sure why the note was necessary.

2. Eh, I should have been more specific, I was more going for 'to promote a sense of drama.' That's usually what the romantics used it for. But yes, it functions as the supertonic going to the dominant as well.

how come someone with a name like PlatonicShred is such a theory guru huh? :D

Originally Posted by: Julian Vickershow come someone with a name like PlatonicShred is such a theory guru huh? :D

I don't know about guru...but, you've got to know your theory. Or rather, I have to know mine---otherwise they'd beat me up here! Ha ha.

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