Lesson 3.1.7

3.1.7 Musical language (Areas of study 2–4) Quiz: AQA Music, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.1.7, Musical language (Areas of study 2–4): 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Music (8271), Unit 1: Understanding music, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which two chord types must students learn to identify for Areas 2 to 4?

    • Dominant and tonic
    • Diminished and augmented
    • Major and minor
    • Seventh and ninth

  2. Which example chord symbol is given in the Area 2 harmony list?

    • Caug
    • Csus4
    • C7
    • Cdim

  3. What does a chord symbol such as 'Gm' tell a performer?

    • A G diminished chord
    • A G minor chord
    • A G major chord
    • A G seventh chord

  4. What do Roman numerals like I, IV, and V represent in music theory?

    • Dynamic levels
    • Tempo markings
    • Scale degrees
    • Time signatures

  5. Where is required musical vocabulary listed within the AQA Music specification?

    • Subject content summaries
    • Assessment grids
    • Performance guides
    • Musical elements tables

  6. Which tonality item is listed for Area 2 popular music?

    • Harmonic minor
    • Whole-tone scale
    • Blues scale
    • Chromatic scale

  7. What must students identify when reading staff notation for Areas 2–4?

    • Orchestration history
    • Lyric meanings
    • Composer biographies
    • Musical elements

  8. Students must identify chords in which two forms?

    • Digital and analogue
    • Aural and written
    • Spoken and tabulated
    • Visual and tactile

  9. What notation system uses letters like C, F, and G7 to name chords?

    • Figured bass
    • Roman numerals
    • Chord symbols
    • Solfa names

  10. What is the maximum bar length for reading staff notation in Areas 2–4?

    • Ten bars
    • Eight bars
    • Sixteen bars
    • Twelve bars

  11. A student hears a chord with a lower third than major. Which chord is it?

    • Major chord
    • Power chord
    • Dominant seventh
    • Minor chord

  12. A student is asked to name a chord with notes C, E and G. Which symbol is correct?

    • C
    • Cm
    • C7
    • Cdim

  13. What type of musical element are pitch bend and glissando?

    • Melody elements
    • Texture elements
    • Structure elements
    • Dynamics elements

  14. A backing track is marked Am. Which notes should the performer use?

    • A, C sharp and E
    • A, B and E
    • A, C and E sharp
    • A, C and E

  15. Which two chord qualities must students be able to identify in written and aural form?

    • Primary and secondary
    • Dominant and tonic
    • Major and minor
    • Augmented and diminished

  16. A chord symbol Dm7 is shown. Which notes does this chord contain?

    • D, F, A and C sharp
    • D, F sharp, A and C
    • D, F, A and C
    • D, F, A flat and C

  17. In C major, what is the chord named by roman numeral VI in the progression I VI IV V?

    • A minor chord (A minor)
    • A dominant seventh (A7)
    • A major chord (A major)
    • A diminished chord (A diminished)

  18. A chord has notes C, E flat, G and B flat. Which symbol is it?

    • Cmaj7
    • Cdim7
    • C7
    • Cm7

  19. What term describes chords that use notes outside the prevailing key?

    • Chromatic
    • Modal
    • Atonal
    • Diatonic

  20. A chord symbol Bdim appears. Which notes make up this chord?

    • B, D and F
    • B, D and F flat
    • B, D flat and F
    • B, D sharp and F

All AQA Music quizzes