Tones And Semitones! Music Theory Trivia Quiz
Tones and Semitones play a major role when it comes to music, and as a music student, you are expected to note these tones in a composition. The quiz below is actually perfect for you if you need a refresher on the tones. Do give it a try and make sure you check out others just like it. All the best!
- 1.
A tone up from C is?
- A.
E
- B.
D
- C.
D#
- D.
Eb
Correct Answer
B. DExplanation
The correct answer is D. In music theory, when we move a tone up from C, we go to the next note in the musical alphabet, which is D.Rate this question:
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- 2.
A tone up from G is B?
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The question asks if a tone up from G is B. In music theory, a tone up from G would be A, not B. Therefore, the correct answer is False.Rate this question:
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- 3.
A tone up from C# is?
- A.
F
- B.
D
- C.
E
- D.
D#
Correct Answer
D. D#Explanation
The answer is D# because when you move up a tone from C#, you go to the next note in the chromatic scale, which is D#.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Semi-Tone up from Eb?
- A.
F
- B.
E
- C.
D
- D.
C
Correct Answer
B. EExplanation
The given question asks for the note that is a semi-tone higher than Eb. In the given options, the note E is a semi-tone higher than Eb.Rate this question:
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- 5.
A tone up from F# is?
- A.
Eb
- B.
G#
- C.
C#
- D.
Bb
Correct Answer
B. G#Explanation
A tone up from F# is G#.Rate this question:
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- 6.
A Semi-Tone up from B is C?
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
In music theory, a semitone is the smallest interval between two notes. Moving a semitone up from B would result in the note C. Therefore, the statement "A semitone up from B is C" is true.Rate this question:
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- 7.
A Semi-Tone up from C# is D#?
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
A semi-tone up from C# is actually D, not D#. In music theory, a semi-tone refers to the smallest interval between two notes. Moving up a semi-tone from C# would result in the note D, not D#. Therefore, the correct answer is False.Rate this question:
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- 8.
A Tone up from E is?
- A.
F#
- B.
F
- C.
Eb
- D.
G
Correct Answer
A. F#Explanation
A tone up from E means increasing the pitch by two whole steps. The note that is two whole steps higher than E is F#. Therefore, the correct answer is F#.Rate this question:
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- 9.
A Tone up from Bb is?
- A.
B
- B.
C
- C.
C#
- D.
D
Correct Answer
B. CExplanation
The correct answer is C# because when you tone up from Bb, you move one half step higher in pitch. In music theory, a half step is the smallest interval between two notes. Therefore, by toning up from Bb, you would reach C#, which is one half step higher in pitch.Rate this question:
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- 10.
A Tone Down from C is
- A.
B
- B.
C#
- C.
D
- D.
Bb
Correct Answer
D. BbExplanation
The correct answer is Bb. In music theory, when we say "a tone down from C," it means we are moving one whole step lower in pitch. In the musical alphabet, after C comes B, and to move one whole step lower from B, we go to Bb. Therefore, Bb is a tone down from C.Rate this question:
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- 11.
A Semi-Tone down from Ab is A.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
A semi-tone down from Ab is G, not A. A semi-tone down means moving one half-step lower in pitch, so Ab to A would actually be a whole-tone down. Therefore, the correct answer is False.Rate this question:
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- 12.
A Semi-Tone down from G is F?
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
A semi-tone down from G is actually G flat (Gb), not F. In music theory, a semi-tone is the smallest interval between two notes, and moving down a semi-tone means lowering the pitch by one half-step. Therefore, G flat is the correct answer as it is one half-step lower than G.Rate this question:
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- 13.
A Semi-Tone down from F is Eb?
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
A Semi-Tone down from F is actually E, not Eb. In music theory, a semitone is the smallest interval between two notes. Moving a semitone down from F would result in the note E, not Eb, as Eb is a whole tone or two semitones down from F. Therefore, the correct answer is False.Rate this question:
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- 14.
A Tone down from A is?
- A.
Ab
- B.
F
- C.
G
- D.
Gb
Correct Answer
C. GExplanation
In music theory, a "tone down" refers to lowering a note by one whole step. In this case, starting from A, the note that is one whole step lower would be G. Therefore, the correct answer is G.Rate this question:
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- 15.
A Tone down from B is?
- A.
Bb
- B.
A
- C.
Ab
- D.
G
Correct Answer
B. AExplanation
The correct answer is A because when we say "tone down from B," it means going down one step from B, which would be A. Therefore, A is the correct answer.Rate this question:
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- 16.
A Semi-Tone up from D is
- A.
E
- B.
C#
- C.
F
- D.
Eb
Correct Answer
D. EbExplanation
A semi-tone (or half-step) is the smallest musical interval used in Western music, and it is the distance between two adjacent keys on a piano. A semi-tone up from D is D# (which is enharmonic to Eb). Therefore, the correct answer is Eb.Rate this question:
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- 17.
A Tone Down from F is D#
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
A tone (or whole step) down from F is actually E♭ (E flat), not D♯ (D sharp). In Western music theory, moving a whole step down from F (which involves two half steps) leads to E♭. D♯ is an enharmonic equivalent of E♭, but it is a tone and a half (three half steps) down from F.Rate this question:
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- 18.
How many semitones are there in an octave?
- A.
6
- B.
8
- C.
12
- D.
16
Correct Answer
C. 12Explanation
An octave encompasses 12 semitones. When played sequentially, these 12 semitones form a chromatic scale, representing all possible pitches within the span of an octave. Each key on a piano, including both white and black keys, represents a semitone in this chromatic arrangement.Rate this question:
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- 19.
A Tone down from F is?
- A.
D
- B.
Eb
- C.
E
Correct Answer
B. EbExplanation
The correct answer is Eb. In music theory, a tone (or whole step) is an interval of 2 semitones (or half steps) added together. So, a tone down from F would be the note that is two semitones below F, which is E flat (Eb). In this context, Eb is the correct answer.Rate this question:
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- 20.
Which of the following statements regarding tones and semitones in music theory is correct?
- A.
A semitone is equivalent to one half-step, while a tone is equivalent to two half-steps.
- B.
A tone is equivalent to one half-step, while a semitone is equivalent to two half-steps.
Correct Answer
A. A semitone is equivalent to one half-step, while a tone is equivalent to two half-steps.Explanation
In music theory, a semitone (also known as a half-step) represents the smallest interval commonly used, corresponding to the distance between adjacent keys on a piano keyboard. A tone (also known as a whole step) is equivalent to two half-steps.Rate this question:
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Jul 22, 2024Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Oct 01, 2012Quiz Created by
DSwinburne