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Elements of Music and Notation
Quick questions on Chords and cadences explained: N(A)-Level Music
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is building a chord?Show answer
A triad is a three-note chord built by stacking thirds: a root, the note a third above it, and the note a fifth above the root. For example, on C the triad is C, E, G. A triad is major if the third is a major third above the root (bright) and minor if the third is a minor third (darker).
What are the three primary chords?Show answer
In any major key, three chords do most of the work. Naming chords by the scale degree of their root with a Roman numeral (upper case for major):
What is q1?Show answer
Build the tonic triad in C major and name its three notes. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Name the two chords that make a perfect cadence and say how it sounds. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain why a phrase that ends on chord V sounds unfinished. [3 marks]
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