Music Theory Chords and Harmony Syllabus

Chords and Harmony syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Chords and Harmony in Music Theory, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Triads

   4 topics

   • Building Triads in Thirds
   • Major, Minor, Diminished, and Augmented Triads
   • Triad Inversions and Figured Bass
   • Triad Identification and Spelling
2. 2

   Seventh Chords

   3 topics

   • Major, Minor, and Dominant Sevenths
   • Half-Diminished and Fully Diminished Sevenths
   • Seventh Chord Inversions
3. 3

   Diatonic Harmony

   4 topics

   • Roman Numeral Analysis
   • Diatonic Triads in Major and Minor Keys
   • Chord Functions: Tonic, Subdominant, Dominant
   • Harmonic Progression and Function
4. 4

   Cadences and Phrases

   3 topics

   • Authentic and Half Cadences
   • Plagal and Deceptive Cadences
   • Phrase Structure and Period Forms
5. 5

   Non-Chord Tones

   4 topics

   • Passing and Neighbor Tones
   • Suspensions and Retardations
   • Appoggiaturas, Escape Tones, and Anticipations
   • Pedal Points
6. 6

   Chromatic Harmony

   5 topics

   • Secondary Dominants and Tonicization
   • Borrowed Chords and Modal Mixture
   • The Neapolitan Sixth
   • Augmented Sixth Chords
   • Modulation and Key Relationships

Chords and Harmony flashcards for Music Theory

23 of 50 cards from the Chords and Harmony deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. How is a triad constructed?

   A triad is a three-note chord built by stacking two consecutive thirds above a starting note. Its members are the root, the third (a third above the root), and the fifth (a fifth above the root). Harmony built in stacked thirds is called tertian harmony.

2. Name the three members of a triad and the interval each forms above the root.

   Root (the note the chord is built on and named after), third (a 3rd above the root), and fifth (a 5th above the root).

3. What is the interval structure of a major triad?

   A major third between root and third, and a minor third between third and fifth, producing a perfect fifth between root and fifth (e.g., C–E–G).

4. What is the interval structure of a minor triad?

   A minor third between root and third, and a major third between third and fifth, producing a perfect fifth between root and fifth (e.g., C–E♭–G).

5. What is the interval structure of a diminished triad?

   Two stacked minor thirds: a minor third from root to third and a minor third from third to fifth, producing a diminished fifth between root and fifth (e.g., C–E♭–G♭).

6. What is the interval structure of an augmented triad?

   Two stacked major thirds: a major third from root to third and a major third from third to fifth, producing an augmented fifth between root and fifth (e.g., C–E–G♯).

7. What single chord member distinguishes a major triad from a minor triad with the same root?

   The third. Both share the root and a perfect fifth; the major triad has a major third above the root, while the minor triad has a minor third (lowered by a half step).

8. Spell the major triad built on E.

   E–G♯–B (major third E to G♯, minor third G♯ to B, perfect fifth E to B).

9. Spell the diminished triad built on B.

   B–D–F (minor third B to D, minor third D to F, diminished fifth B to F). It is the diatonic vii° triad in C major.

10. Spell the augmented triad built on C.

    C–E–G♯ (major third C to E, major third E to G♯, augmented fifth C to G♯).

11. In figured bass, what figures indicate a root-position triad, and how are they usually written?

    Root position implies ${}^{5}_{3}$ (a fifth and a third above the bass). The figures are usually omitted entirely because root position is the default.

12. What is a first-inversion triad and what is its figured-bass symbol?

    A triad with its third in the bass. Its figured bass is $6$ (shorthand for ${}^{6}_{3}$), indicating a sixth and a third above the bass.

13. What is a second-inversion triad and what is its figured-bass symbol?

    A triad with its fifth in the bass. Its figured bass is ${}^{6}_{4}$, indicating a sixth and a fourth above the bass. Second-inversion triads are treated as unstable/dissonant in common-practice harmony.

14. What does figured bass actually indicate?

    Numbers below (or beside) a bass note showing the generic intervals to be played above that bass note; accidentals in the figures alter those upper notes. It specifies chord inversion, not the chord's root directly.

15. Describe the process for identifying an unknown triad written on the staff.

    1) Rearrange the notes into stacked thirds ("snowman" position) — the lowest note is then the root. 2) Measure the quality of the third and fifth above the root to determine quality (major, minor, diminished, augmented). 3) Compare the original bass note to the root to determine inversion.

16. What is the structure of a major seventh chord?

    A major triad plus a major seventh above the root (e.g., C–E–G–B, written Cmaj7). Diatonically it occurs on scale degrees 1 and 4 in major keys.

17. What is the structure of a minor seventh chord?

    A minor triad plus a minor seventh above the root (e.g., C–E♭–G–B♭, written Cm7). Diatonically it occurs on scale degrees 2, 3, and 6 in major keys.

18. What is the structure of a dominant seventh chord, and on which scale degree is it the only diatonic seventh of its quality?

    A major triad plus a minor seventh above the root (e.g., G–B–D–F). It occurs diatonically only on scale degree 5, hence the name "dominant" seventh ($V^{7}$).

19. What is the structure of a half-diminished seventh chord?

    A diminished triad plus a minor seventh above the root (e.g., B–D–F–A), symbolized ø7 (e.g., Bø7 or viiø7). The seventh is a minor seventh even though the fifth is diminished.

20. What is the structure of a fully diminished seventh chord?

    A diminished triad plus a diminished seventh above the root — equivalently, three stacked minor thirds (e.g., B–D–F–A♭), symbolized °7. It divides the octave symmetrically into minor thirds.

21. Where do the half-diminished and fully diminished seventh chords occur diatonically?

    Half-diminished: on the leading tone in major (viiø7) and on scale degree 2 in minor (iiø7). Fully diminished: on the raised leading tone in minor (vii°7, using the harmonic minor scale).

22. What are the four figured-bass symbols for a seventh chord in root position and its three inversions?

    Root position: $7$; first inversion: ${}^{6}_{5}$; second inversion: ${}^{4}_{3}$; third inversion: ${}^{4}_{2}$ (or simply $2$).

23. For each seventh-chord inversion figure ($7$, ${}^{6}_{5}$, ${}^{4}_{3}$, ${}^{4}_{2}$), which chord member is in the bass?

    $7$: root in the bass; ${}^{6}_{5}$: third in the bass; ${}^{4}_{3}$: fifth in the bass; ${}^{4}_{2}$: seventh in the bass.

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