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VICMusicQuick questions
Unit 3: Performance and music language
Quick questions on Chord and cadence aural recognition in VCE Music
4short 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 hearing the bass line first?Show answer
The bass line is the foundation of harmonic listening because it usually carries the roots of the chords and outlines the progression.
What is judging chord quality by colour?Show answer
Once you have a root, decide the quality from the sound. Major chords sound bright and stable; minor chords sound darker and more reflective; dominant seventh chords sound bright but unstable, with a clear pull to resolve; diminished chords sound tense and unsettled.
What are recognising common progressions?Show answer
Whole progressions have recognisable sounds. The I, IV, V, I progression is the backbone of countless songs and feels grounded and conclusive. The I, V, vi, IV loop is instantly familiar from pop. The ii, V, I is the signature jazz cadence.
What is identifying cadences by ear?Show answer
Cadences are the easiest harmony to hear because they mark the ends of phrases with a clear sense of arrival or suspension.
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