Questions – Major Scale Characteristics

1 Questions – Major Scale Characteristics

Directions: The following questions are multiple choice. Circle the a- b- c- d of the correct response. All answers can be found on the Characteristics of Major Scales handout.

1. How many different key signatures exist that can be used to construct a major scale?

a. six (6) b. fifteen (15) c. twelve (12) d. seven (7)

2. All of the notes in a major scale exists within

a. one octave b. a perfect fifth c. two octaves d. a perfect fourth

3. The top note/pitch of a major scale has the same pitch name as

a. the second note/pitch of the scale b. the relative minor scale c. the first note/pitch of the scale d. the octave of the third note

4. Each major scale has a(an) ______key signature that is not shared with any other major scale.

a. unique b. parallel c. relative d. none of the above

5. All major scales follow ______order using the common pitch names: A B C D E F G starting over on A following G.

a. reverse b. retrograde c. sequential d. alphabetical

6. No two major scales share

a. a common key signature b. the same characteristic sound c. the same required time signature d. an exact relative range 2 7. There are _____ different major scales that have flats in the key signature.

a. twelve (12) b. one (1) c. fifteen (15) d. seven (7)

8. The are _____ different major scales that have sharps in the key signature.

a. six (6) b. one (1) c. seven (7) d. fifteen (15)

9. The ______major scale has no sharps or flats in the key signature.

a. G b. C flat c. F d. C

10. The order in which flats add to the key signatures of major scales is

a. F C G D A E B b. A B C D E F G c. B E A D G C F d. G F E D C B A

11. With regard to all major scales, sharps and flats

a. can be mixed in a major scale b. are commonly mixed in the key signature of a major scale c. can never be mixed in the key signature of a major scale d. are only mixed in the key signature of a major scale when enharmonic spellings are used

12. The absence of any sharps or flats in the key signature of a major scale indicates

a. the key of C major b. the key of C sharp major c. the key of F major d. the key of G major

13. What gives the major scale its characteristic sound?

a. the standard key signature b. the series of whole steps and half steps inherent in all of the major scales c. the seven intervals that exists in a major scale with regard to the tonic d. the rhythm that is used to perform the scale

3 14. The order in which sharps add to the key signatures of major scales is

a. F C G D A E B b. A B C D E F G c. B E A D G C F d. G F E D C B A

15. When a major scale is enharmonic with another major scale

a. the two scales use reverse pitches b. the two scales share the same exact pitches but utilize different key signatures and pitch names c. the two scales use inverse pitches with reversed root pitches d. the two scales share similar pitches but utilize the same key signatures and pitch names

16. How many of the major scales are enharmonic?

a. fifteen (15) b. twelve (12) c. six (6) d. seven (7)

17. Sharps and flats found in the key signatures of the major scales

a. must be added in a certain and consistent order b. can be added to a key signature without regard for order c. can be mixed to create unique sounding key signatures d. none of the above

18. Regardless of the key of your instrument, the name of the major scale that will be performed is

a. the same as the first note of the scale you are performing on your instrument b. indicative of the concert pitch of the major scale c. different than the first note of the major scale you are performing on your instrument d. none of the above

19. Of the four key signatures listed below, which key signature cannot exist?

a. B flat, E flat, and A flat b. F sharp and G sharp c. B flat d. B flat, E flat, A flat, and D flat

4 20. What are the only two pitches in a major scale that will share the same pitch name?

a. the root and the octave of the root b. the first note of the scale and the fifth note of the scale c. the actual pitch and the concert pitch d. none of the above

21. Which sequence below is the correct whole step / half step sequence for the major scale?

a. whole / half / half / whole / whole / whole / whole b. whole / half / whole / whole / whole / half / whole c. half / half / whole / half / half / half / whole d. whole / whole / half / whole / whole / whole / half

22. Which statement(s) below describe(s) the characteristics between a major scale and a concert major scale?

a. The scales are all major scales, but concert pitch is used to adjust for the differences in the keys of the instruments. b. A player would simply play the major scale on his/her instrument that corresponds to the concert pitch. c. Concert pitch is an adjustment that is made so that all instruments will play in unison regardless of the key of the instrument; therefore, the actual major scale that a performer would play on a given instrument is adjusted so that a major scale can be played in unison by all of the instruments in the ensemble. d. all of the above

23. What specifically gives all of the major scales their characteristic and identifiable sound?

a. the beginning note b. the whole step / half step sequence c. the first and the last notes d. the order in which the scales are played

24. If a key signature has three flats, which example below would represent the correct flats in the key signature in the correct order?

a. Bb, Eb, and Db b. Bb, Eb, and Ab c. Eb, Ab, and Db d. Bb, Ab, and Gb

5 25. If a key signature has four sharps, which example below would represent the correct sharps in the key signature in the correct order?

a. B, E, A, and D b. F, C, G, and D c. B, C, D, and E d. C, D, F, and G