Basic Music Theory Quiz! Trivia
Does the thought of music theory have you humming a tune in delight? Music theory is a practice that musicians use to appreciate and communicate the language of music. Musical theory reviews the basics of music. It also gives a system to interpret musical arrangements. For example, basic music theory characterizes the elements that create harmony, melody, and cadence. This quiz will get you into the rhythm of basic music theory.
- 1.
In music theory, what do we call the symbol placed at the beginning of a musical staff to indicate the pitch of the notes written on the lines and spaces?
- 2.
What note is a perfect fifth interval above C?
- A.
D
- B.
E flat
- C.
E
- D.
F
- E.
G
Correct Answer
E. GExplanation
G is five steps above C.Rate this question:
-
- 3.
What does the lower number in the time signature indicate?
- A.
Number of beats per measure
- B.
Number of measures per barline/staff
- C.
Length of note that is one beat
- D.
Pitch of note that is one beat
- E.
Number of beats in two measures
Correct Answer
C. Length of note that is one beatExplanation
The bottom number indicates what type of note "gets the beat." For example, in 4/4 time, the 1/4th or quarter note is one beat.Rate this question:
-
- 4.
What is the relative minor scale to G major?
- A.
B minor
- B.
C minor
- C.
C sharp minor
- D.
D minor
- E.
E minor
Correct Answer
E. E minorExplanation
A relative minor scale has the same key signature as the relative major but is a minor scale.Rate this question:
-
- 5.
Which of the following markings would affect the length of a note?
- A.
Sharp
- B.
Double-sharp
- C.
Flat
- D.
Dot
- E.
None of the above
Correct Answer
D. DotExplanation
The dot adds half of the note's original length to the total length of the note. For example, a dotted half note is 3 1/4 notes in length.Rate this question:
-
- 6.
Which of the following is the correct term for a note that is an 8th above another note?
- A.
Relative major
- B.
Perfect
- C.
Octave
- D.
Dominant
- E.
Minor
Correct Answer
C. OctaveExplanation
The octave is the 8th above or below the note.Rate this question:
-
- 7.
What would the dominant chord be in the key of A major?
- A.
CEG
- B.
EG#B
- C.
FAC
- D.
AC#E
- E.
BDF#
Correct Answer
B. EG#BExplanation
EG#B makes up the E major chord- the dominant 5 chord in the key of A major.Rate this question:
-
- 8.
How would the chord (with notes from lowest to highest) : C E G B be classified?
- A.
Major 7th
- B.
Minor 6th
- C.
Perfect 5th
- D.
Augmented 7th
- E.
Major 9th
Correct Answer
A. Major 7thExplanation
Since all of the notes are in the C-major scale and the top note is a 7th, it is a major 7th chord.Rate this question:
-
- 9.
How many sharps are in the scale F# (sharp) major?
- A.
2
- B.
3
- C.
4
- D.
5
- E.
6
Correct Answer
E. 6Explanation
The scale of F# major has six sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, and E#. In the key signature of F# major, each of these notes is raised by a half step, or a sharp. Therefore, the correct answer is 6.Rate this question:
-
- 10.
The key signature of Bb (B flat major) has 3 flats
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The key signature of Bb (B flat major) actually has 2 flats, not 3. The key signature of Bb major consists of Bb and Eb, which are the two flats. Therefore, the correct answer is false.Rate this question:
-
- 11.
The key signature of B (major) has 5 sharps
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The key signature of B major has 5 sharps because in the B major scale, the notes B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, and A# are all raised by a half step. These raised notes are represented by sharps in the key signature. Since there are 5 notes that need to be raised in the B major scale, the key signature of B major has 5 sharps.Rate this question:
-
- 12.
A major 3rd interval is equivalent to two whole steps above the root
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
A major 3rd interval is equivalent to two whole steps above the root. This means that if we start on a certain note (the root), and move up by two whole steps, we will reach a major 3rd interval. Therefore, the statement is true.Rate this question:
-
- 13.
B minor is the relative minor to Eb major
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
B minor is the relative minor D majorRate this question:
-
- 14.
In 4/4 time, which note receives one full beat?
- A.
Sixteenth note
- B.
Half note
- C.
Quarter note
- D.
Whole note
Correct Answer
C. Quarter noteExplanation
In 4/4 time, the top number indicates that there are four beats per measure, and the bottom number indicates that the quarter note receives one beat. Therefore, the correct answer is the quarter note, as it is the note that receives one full beat in this time signature.Rate this question:
-
- 15.
What note is a perfect fourth interval above A?
- A.
B
- B.
D
- C.
F#
- D.
Eb
Correct Answer
B. DExplanation
A perfect fourth interval above A is the note D. In music theory, a perfect fourth is a musical interval that spans four notes in the diatonic scale. Starting from A and counting four notes up, we land on D.Rate this question:
-
- 16.
What note is a major seventh interval above E?
- A.
C#
- B.
D
- C.
B
- D.
D#
Correct Answer
D. D#Explanation
The note that is a major seventh interval above E is D#. In music theory, a major seventh interval consists of 11 half steps or semitones. Starting from E and counting up 11 half steps, we arrive at D#. Therefore, D# is the correct answer.Rate this question:
-
- 17.
The A major chord is the V (5) chord in the key of
- A.
C
- B.
E
- C.
D
- D.
Bb
Correct Answer
C. DExplanation
The A major chord is the V (5) chord in the key of D. In music theory, the V chord is known as the dominant chord and it has a strong tendency to resolve to the I (tonic) chord. In the key of D, the V chord is A major, which consists of the notes A, C#, and E. This chord creates tension and leads the listener's ear back to the D major chord, providing a sense of resolution and stability.Rate this question:
-
- 18.
E major in its first inversion would be
- A.
B G# E
- B.
G# B E
- C.
E G B
- D.
A C# E
Correct Answer
B. G# B EExplanation
The given answer, G# B E, represents E major in its first inversion. In a first inversion, the root note (E) is moved up an octave, resulting in the notes G#, B, and E. This creates a different tonal quality compared to the standard E major chord, as the third (G#) becomes the bass note.Rate this question:
-
- 19.
What note is a minor 3rd interval above C?
- A.
Eb
- B.
F
- C.
Db
- D.
A#
Correct Answer
A. EbExplanation
A minor 3rd interval above C means moving 3 half steps up from C. Starting from C, counting 3 half steps up, we land on Eb. Therefore, Eb is the correct answer as it is a minor 3rd interval above C.Rate this question:
-
- 20.
What does the top number in the time signature indicate?
- A.
How many beats per measure
- B.
How many measures per section
- C.
The length of each note
- D.
The tempo of the song
Correct Answer
A. How many beats per measureExplanation
The top number in a time signature indicates how many beats are in each measure. A time signature is used in music notation to specify the number of beats in each measure and the type of note that receives one beat. The top number represents the number of beats, while the bottom number represents the type of note. Therefore, the correct answer is "How many beats per measure."Rate this question:
-
- 21.
Two sixteenth notes are the equivalent of
- A.
One half note
- B.
One eighth note
- C.
Two quarter notes
- D.
One quarter note
Correct Answer
B. One eighth noteExplanation
Two sixteenth notes are the equivalent of one eighth note. In musical notation, a sixteenth note is a note value that represents 1/16th of a whole note. Therefore, two sixteenth notes combined would equal 2/16th of a whole note, which simplifies to 1/8th of a whole note, also known as an eighth note.Rate this question:
-
- 22.
If the time signature is 3/4, which note takes one full beat?
- A.
Quater note
- B.
Triplet
- C.
Sixteenth note
- D.
Eighth note
Correct Answer
A. Quater noteExplanation
In a time signature of 3/4, there are three beats in each measure and the quarter note receives one full beat. This means that the quarter note is the note that lasts for the entire duration of one beat.Rate this question:
-
- 23.
If the time signature is 6/8, which note takes one full beat?
- A.
Half note
- B.
Sixteenth note
- C.
Eighth note
- D.
Thirty-second note
Correct Answer
C. Eighth noteExplanation
In a time signature of 6/8, there are 6 eighth notes in each measure. This means that each eighth note takes one full beat. The other note options, such as the half note, sixteenth note, and thirty-second note, do not align with the time signature and would not take one full beat.Rate this question:
-
- 24.
How would the chord (with notes from lowest to highest) : B D F# A be classified?
- A.
Major 7th
- B.
Perfect 5th
- C.
Minor 7th
- D.
Augmented 7th
- E.
Major 9th
Correct Answer
C. Minor 7thExplanation
Since all of the notes are in the C-major scale and the top note is a 7th, it is a major 7th chord.Rate this question:
-
Quiz Review Timeline +
Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.
-
Current Version
-
Mar 11, 2024Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Aug 19, 2019Quiz Created by
Joel Jurekovic
Back to top