Free BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Diatonic and Chromatic Harmony Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the key of C Major, a chord progression moves from C Major (I) to A-flat Major (♭VI). Which chromatic harmony technique is being employed?
- Secondary Dominant
- Neapolitan Chord
- Modal Mixture (Correct answer)
- Augmented Sixth Chord
Correct answer: Modal Mixture
Modal mixture, also known as modal borrowing, involves using chords from the parallel minor key within a major key (or vice versa). In C Major, the diatonic vi chord is A minor (A-C-E). The ♭VI chord, A-flat Major (A♭-C-E♭), is borrowed from the parallel key of C minor, where A♭ Major is the diatonic VI chord.
Question 2: Which of the following is a key characteristic of a secondary dominant chord?
- It is a minor or diminished chord that resolves to the tonic.
- It is a major or dominant seventh chord that resolves to a diatonic chord other than the tonic. (Correct answer)
- It is always built on the lowered second scale degree.
- It resolves by moving all voices in parallel motion to the tonic.
Correct answer: It is a major or dominant seventh chord that resolves to a diatonic chord other than the tonic.
A secondary dominant is a chromatically altered chord that functions as the dominant of a diatonic chord other than the tonic. For example, in C Major, the V/V (V of V) is a D Major chord, which temporarily tonicizes the G Major (V) chord. These chords are typically major triads or dominant seventh chords.
Question 3: A composer writes a passage in G minor and includes a chord consisting of the notes A-flat, C, and F-sharp. This chord resolves to a D Major chord (V). What is the most precise classification of this chromatic chord?
- French Augmented Sixth (Fr+6)
- German Augmented Sixth (Ger+6)
- Common-Tone Diminished Seventh
- Italian Augmented Sixth (It+6) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Italian Augmented Sixth (It+6)
This chord is an Italian Augmented Sixth. It is built on the lowered sixth scale degree (Le, A♭) and contains the raised fourth scale degree (Fi, F♯), creating the characteristic augmented sixth interval. The third note is the tonic (Do, C). The Italian +6 chord consists of Le, Do, and Fi (♭6, 1, ♯4), and it resolves to the dominant (V).
Question 4: The Neapolitan chord (N6 or ♭II6) most commonly functions as which type of harmony?
- Tonic Prolongation
- Dominant Substitute
- Mediant Mixture
- Predominant (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Predominant
The Neapolitan chord is a major triad built on the lowered supertonic (♭II). It most often appears in first inversion (N6) and functions as a predominant harmony, meaning it prepares the arrival of the dominant (V) chord. Its strong pull towards the dominant makes it a dramatic and expressive chromatic choice.
Question 5: A student is analyzing a piece in E Major and encounters a D♯ fully-diminished seventh chord that resolves to an E Major chord. The D♯ is the leading tone to E. However, a different fully-diminished seventh chord, F-A-C-E♭, appears between two E Major chords. What is the likely function of this second diminished chord?
- Secondary Leading-Tone Chord (vii°7/V)
- Common-Tone Diminished Seventh Chord (CT°7) (Correct answer)
- Enharmonic German Augmented Sixth Chord
- Borrowed iv°7 from the parallel minor
Correct answer: Common-Tone Diminished Seventh Chord (CT°7)
This chord is a common-tone diminished seventh chord. Its function is not to progress to a new chord in the traditional sense, but to embellish and prolong the chord it resolves to by sharing a common pitch. In this case, the note 'E' is common to both the F-A-C-E♭ (enharmonically spelled) chord and the E Major chord it prolongs. These chords function as non-functional chromatic embellishments.
Question 6: Which statement accurately distinguishes between diatonic and chromatic harmony?
- Diatonic harmony uses only major and minor triads, while chromatic harmony introduces diminished and augmented triads.
- Diatonic harmony exclusively uses chords built from the notes of the prevailing key signature, while chromatic harmony incorporates notes and chords from outside the key. (Correct answer)
- Diatonic harmony is primarily found in minor keys, whereas chromatic harmony is the basis for major keys.
- Chromatic harmony refers to any chord in an inversion, while diatonic harmony refers only to root-position chords.
Correct answer: Diatonic harmony exclusively uses chords built from the notes of the prevailing key signature, while chromatic harmony incorporates notes and chords from outside the key.
The fundamental difference lies in the source of the pitches used. Diatonic harmony confines itself to the notes belonging to the established major or minor scale of a piece. Chromatic harmony introduces pitches external to that scale, creating altered chords like secondary dominants, augmented sixths, and borrowed chords, which add color and complexity.
Free BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Diatonic and Chromatic Harmony Questions and Answers
In the key of C Major, a chord progression moves from C Major (I) to A-flat Major (♭VI).
Which chromatic harmony technique is being employed?