Major & Minor Scales Quiz

Grade 6 · Music · Quiz

Test your understanding of scale patterns, intervals, and how major and minor scales differ.

Questions

1. How many notes are in a major scale (not counting the repeated octave at the top)?

   1. 5
   2. 6
   3. 7
   4. 8
   Show answer

   Answer: 7

   A major scale has 7 unique notes — when you play the 8th note, it is the same note as the first (the tonic) but one octave higher.

2. The A natural minor scale uses different keys than the C major scale on a piano.

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   Answer: False

   Both C major and A natural minor use the exact same white keys — they are relative scales and share all the same notes.

3. The relative minor of C major starts on the ___ note of the C major scale.

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   Answer: sixth

   The relative minor always begins on the 6th scale degree of its relative major — A is the 6th note of C major, making A minor its relative minor.

4. What is the interval pattern for a natural minor scale?

   1. W-W-H-W-W-W-H
   2. W-H-W-W-H-W-W
   3. H-W-H-W-W-H-W
   4. W-W-W-H-W-H-W
   Show answer

   Answer: W-H-W-W-H-W-W

   The natural minor scale pattern is Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole, which gives it its characteristic darker sound.

5. A whole step is equal to two half steps.

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   Answer: True

   A whole step equals exactly two half steps — on a piano, a whole step skips one key while a half step moves to the immediately adjacent key.

6. Which of these songs is most likely written in a major key?

   1. A funeral march
   2. Happy Birthday
   3. A horror movie soundtrack
   4. A lullaby about loss
   Show answer

   Answer: Happy Birthday

   Happy Birthday is written in a major key and has a bright, upbeat feel — horror soundtracks and funeral marches typically use minor keys.

7. The first note of a scale, which acts as its home base, is called the ___.

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   Answer: tonic

   The tonic is the first and most important note of a scale — it is the home base that all other notes in the scale relate to.

8. On a piano, moving from one key to the very next key (white or black) is called a:

   1. Whole step
   2. Major third
   3. Half step
   4. Octave
   Show answer

   Answer: Half step

   A half step (or semitone) is the smallest interval in Western music — moving to any immediately adjacent key, whether white or black.

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