Music Theory Baseline
Answer the following questions on your answer sheet. DO NOT write on this exam.
1. Music is written on a ____ line staff.
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5
2. There are _____ spaces on the staff.
a. 12
b. 4
c. 5
d. 2
3. The treble clef establishes the note ____
on the second line.
a. G
b. C
c. F
d. A
4. The Major Scale is comprised of _____
consecutive tones.
a. 7
b. 6
c. 8
d. 12
5.
means:
a. Gradually slow down
b. Gradually get faster
c. Gradually get louder
d. Gradually get softer
6. Notes are named after the first ___ letters
of the alphabet.
a. 5
b. 6
c. 7
d. 8
7. A whole note equals how many beats?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 1
d. 3
8. Four quarter notes equal _____ half notes.
a. 5
b. 4
c. 3
d. 2
9. Stems go down if the notes are on or
above the ____ line.
a. 2nd
b. 3rd
c. 4th
d. 5th
10. Stems going up are attached on which side
of the note head?
a. Left
b. Right
11. The end of a piece of music is indicated by
a ______________?
a. Coda
b. Double Bar Line
c. Repeat Sign
d. Bar Line
12. Music is divided into _______ separated
by bar lines.
a. Staffs
b. Measures
c. Notes
d. Tones
13. Merry; Quick; Lively; Bright:
a. Adagio
b. Allegro
c. Moderato
d. Ritardando
14. The bottom number of a time signature
shows what kind of note gets ____
beat(s).
a. One
b. Two
c. Three
d. Four
15. A flat sign affects every note on the same
line or space for an entire measure.
a. True
b. False
16. In 4/4 time, there are _____ beats in each
measure.
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
17. The treble and bass clefs can be joined
together by a ____________.
a. Grand Staff
b. Ledger Line
c. Staff
d. Double Bar
18. The bass clef establishes the note ____ on
the forth line.
a. G
b. C
c. F
d. D
19. When notes need to be added above or
below the staff we use a ______________.
a. Grand Staff
b. Ledger Line
c. Bar Line
d. Rest
20. A dot placed after a note adds _______
the value of the original note.
a. Triple
b. Zero
c. Half
d. None of the above
21. A _______ is a curved line that connects
two notes of the same pitch.
a. Slur
b. Tenuto
c. Tie
22. If a piece has a first and second ending,
you play the __________ the first time.
a. First ending
b. Second time
c. Repeat
d. D.S.
23. Four eighth notes equal _____ quarter
notes.
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
24. Two dots placed before a double bar is
a________.
a. Double Dotted Bar Line
b. Ledger Line
c. Repeat Sign
d. Double Bar
25. To increase the speed gradually:
a. Accelerando
b. Largo
c. Adagio
d. Ritardando
26. When a note is tied across the bar line, its
accidental is cancelled.
a. True
b. False
27. A natural sign ________ the effect of a flat
or sharp.
a. Raises
b. Cancels
c. Lowers
d. None of the above
28. A half note equals how many beats?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 3
d. 1
29. A dotted ______ note receives 1½ counts.
a. Half Note
b. Eighth Note
c. Whole Note
d. Quarter Note
30. The formula of whole and half steps is the
same for all major scales.
a. True
b. False
31. Moderately soft:
a. piano
b. fortissimo
c. mezzo piano
d. mezzo forte
32. A flat sign lowers the pitch of a note
____________.
a. One Whole step
b. One Half step
c. Two Whole steps
d. Two Half steps
33. A bar line does not cancel an accidental.
a. True
b. False
34. What is the order of sharps?
a. D A E B F C G
b. G C F B E A D
c. B E A D G C F
d. F C G D A E B
35. The key of F contains 1 sharp.
a. True
b. False
36. The black keys get their names from the
____ keys.
a. Sharp
b. Flat
c. White
d. None of the above
37. When two notes sound the same but have
different letter names, they are called
__________.
a. Accidentals
b. Tonal
c. Fine
d. Enharmonics
38. The formula for the chromatic scale is:
a. W W W H W W H
b. W W H W W W H
c. H H W H H H W
d. H H H H H H H H
39. The Major Scale is comprised of ______
tetrachord(s).
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
40.
means:
a. Gradually slow down
b. Gradually get faster
c. Gradually get louder
d. Gradually get softer
41. The key of ______ has 5 flats.
a. Bb
b. Eb
c. Db
d. Ab
42. A natural sign cancels a sharp or flat
within the same measure.
a. True
b. False
43. The key of D contains 2 flats.
a. True
b. False
44. Crescendo:
a. Gradually slow down
b. Gradually get faster
c. Gradually get louder
d. Gradually get softer
45. The key of Eb contains 3 flats.
a. True
b. False
46. The key signature is placed at the
beginning of a composition.
a. True
b. False
47. The amount of sharps and/or flats in the
treble clef key signature is different from
the amount of sharps and/or flats in the
bass clef key signature.
a. True
b. False
48. Keys are related by ____.
a. Fourths
b. Thirds
c. Fifths
d. None of the above
49. The key of E major has _____ sharps.
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
50. What is the third note of the F# major
scale.
a. Bb
b. B#
c. A
d. A#
51. The formula for the Major Scale is:
a. W W W H W W H
b. W W H W W W H
c. H H W H H H W
d. H H H H H H H H
52. What is the fifth note of the Eb major
scale.
a. Ab
b. B
c. G
d. Bb
53. To hold a tone or rest beyond the written
value.
a. Tenuto
b. Accent
c. Fermata
d. Staccato
54. The key of Bb contains 2 flats.
a. True
b. False
55. Flats, sharps and naturals are called
_______.
a. Notes
b. Rhythms
c. Accidentals
d. Enharmonics
56. How many eighth notes are contained in a
dotted quarter note?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5
57. Very slow and broad, with dignity:
a. Adagio
b. Moderato
c. Ritardando
d. Largo
58. To add stress at the beginning of a note.
a. Tenuto
b. Accent
c. Fermata
d. Staccato
59. Very quick:
a. Allegro
b. Presto
c. Accelerando
d. Largo
60. Very slow and expressive:
a. Moderato
b. Ritardando
c. Allegro
d. Adagio
61. A _______ is a curved line that connects
two notes of different pitch.
a. Slur
b. Tenuto
c. Tie
d. Fermata
62. Gradually get slower:
a. Presto
b. Accelerando
c. Largo
d. Ritardando
63. A repeat sign means go back to the _____
and play again.
a. D.C.
b. D.S.
c. Beginning
d. Fine
64. Moderate speed, not fast not slow:
a. Moderato
b. Allegro
c. Presto
d. Accelerando
65. Play the note short and detached; with
distinct precision:
a. Tenuto
b. Accent
c. Fermata
d. Staccato
66. Sustained for the full time-value:
a. Tenuto
b. Accent
c. Fermata
d. Staccato
67. Very Soft:
a. piano
b. forte
c. mezzo forte
d. pianissimo
68. Decrescendo:
a. Gradually slow down
b. Gradually get faster
c. Gradually get louder
d. Gradually get softer
69. Loud:
a. mezzo forte
b. fortissimo
c. mezzo piano
d. forte
70. A whole note + 2 quarter notes + 3 eighth
notes =
a. 4 beats
b. 5.5 beats
c. 6 beats
d. 7.5 beats
71. Each black key has ____ names.
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5
72. What is the order of flats?
a. D A E B F C G
b. G C F B E A D
c. B E A D G C F
d. F C G D A E B
73. Return to the original tempo:
a. A Tempo
b. Tacet
c. Coda
d. Dolce
74. Very Much:
a. Meno
b. Mezzo
c. Molto
d. Piu
75. Little by Little:
a. Poco A Poco
b. Con
c. Piu
d. Quasi
76. Sweetly and Softly:
a. Legato
b. Dolce
c. Cantabile
d. Fuoco
77. Begin the next movement immediately:
a. Cadence
b. Attaca
c. Fine
d. Pesante
78. With
a. Quasi
b. Dolce
c. Piu
d. Con
79. Walking speed:
a. Allegretto
b. Allegro
c. Andante
d. Adagio
Question 80-86 pertain to the following example
1
2
3
80. What major key is indicated in measure
one?
a. F# major
b. C# major
c. E major
d. G# major
81. What major key is indicated in measure
two?
a. Fb major
b. C major
c. Db major
d. Bb major
82. What major key is indicated in measure
three?
a. Eb major
b. F major
c. Ab major
d. E major
83. What major key is indicated in measure
four?
a. G# major
b. F major
c. F# major
d. G major
4
5
6
7
84. What major key is indicated in measure
five?
a. C major
b. D major
c. A major
d. C# major
85. What major key is indicated in measure
six?
a. F major
b. Bb major
c. Eb major
d. C major
86. What major key is indicated in measure
seven?
a. Db major
b. Ab major
c. A major
d. D major
Label the following pictures
:
87. Number 1:
a. Dotted Quarter Note
b. Dotted Whole Note
c. Dotted Half Note
d. None of the above
88. Number 2:
a. Natural
b. Flat
c. Sharp
d. None of the above
89. Number 3:
a. Mezzo Forte
b. Mezzo Fortissimo
c. Forte
d. None of the above
90. Number 4:
a. Fermata
b. Staccato
c. Legato
d. Done of the above
91. Number 1:
a. Bass Clef
b. Treble Clef
c. Alto Clef
d. None of the above
92. Number 2:
a. Mezzo Pianissimo
b. Piano
c. Mezzo
d. None of the above
93. Number 3:
a. Dotted Eighth Note
b. Dotted Half Note
c. Whole Note
d. None of the above
94. Number 4:
a. Sharp
b. Natural
c. Flat
d. None of the above
95. Number 1:
a. Whole Note
b. Quarter Note
c. Half Note
d. None of the above
96. Number 2:
a. Half Note
b. Quarter Note
c. Eighth Note
d. None of the above
97. Number 3:
a. Mezzo Forte
b. Forte
c. Whole Note
d. None of the above
98. Number 4:
a. Bass Clef
b. Treble Clef
c. Time Signature
d. None of the above
99. Number 1:
a. Eighth Note
b. Whole Note
c. Half Note
d. None of the above
100. Number 2:
a. Quarter Rest
b. Eighth Rest
c. Whole Rest
d. None of the above
101. Number 3:
a. Accent
b. Staccato
c. Fermata
d. None of the above
102. Number 4:
a. Flat
b. Sharp
c. Natural
d. None of the above
103.
104.
Number 1:
a. Eighth Note
b. Whole Note
c. Half Note
d. None of the above
Number 2:
a. Pianissimo
b. Piano
c. Mezzo
d. None of the above
107. How many HALF steps are between
F and F#
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
108. How many HALF steps are between
G and A#
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
105.
106.
Number 3:
a. Half Rest
b. Whole Rest
c. Quarter Rest
d. None of the above
Number 4:
a. Bass Cleff
b. Treble Cleff
c. Time Signature
d. None of the above
109. How many WHOLE steps are
between F and B
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
110. How many WHOLE steps are
between D and E
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4