Chapter 1: Musical Elements and Instruments
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Timbre refers to:
a. loudness of sound c. frequency of sound
b. quality of sound d. pitch of sound
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 8
TOP: Musical Orientation
2. A device inserted into the bell of a brass instrument to distort the sounds coming out is
called a:
a. valve c. mouthpiece
b. mute d. key
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 8
TOP: Musical Orientation
3. The use of unusual sounds for expressive purposes is known as:
a. timbre variation c. downbeat
b. polyrhythm d. scale
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 8
TOP: Musical Orientation
,4. Which is NOT an option for changing the pitch of a wind instrument?
a. changing the length of the tube c. blowing with increased intensity
b. playing notes of longer duration d. changing the embouchure
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: p. 9
TOP: Musical Orientation
5. Which mute enables the trumpet to emulate human speech most effectively?
a. cup mute c. plunger mute
b. Harmon mute d. straight mute
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 9
TOP: Musical Orientation
6. The glissando, or smear, is most characteristic of which brass instrument?
a. trumpet c. tuba
b. cornet d. trombone
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 9
TOP: Musical Orientation
7. All of the following describe the clarinet EXCEPT:
a. cylindrical instrument made of wood
b. standard instrument in New Orleans jazz style
c. played by the Swing Era bandleaders Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw
d. most common reed instrument in jazz
, ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: pp. 9–10
TOP: Musical Orientation
8. Which is NOT one of the kinds of saxophone most often played in jazz?
a. soprano
b. alto
c. tenor
d. baritone
e. bass
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 10
TOP: Musical Orientation
9. All of the following are basic functions of the rhythm section EXCEPT:
a. providing harmony c. providing the bass
b. providing the main melodic line d. providing percussion
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 10
TOP: Musical Orientation
10. Of these harmony instruments, which has been the most important for jazz during most of
its history?
a. banjo c. acoustic piano
b. vibraphone d. synthesizer
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 10
TOP: Musical Orientation
, 11. Which of the following is NOT one of the primary roles of the bass in the rhythm
section?
a. playing melodies
b. playing notes that support the harmony
c. providing a basic underlying rhythmic foundation
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 11
TOP: Musical Orientation
12. Which Latin percussion instrument does this describe: tall drums of equal height but
different diameters, with the smaller one assigned the lead role?
a. maracas c. timbales
b. guiro d. congas
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 12
TOP: Musical Orientation
13. Which part of the drum set consists of two cymbals controlled by a foot pedal?
a. tom-tom c. high-hat
b. ride cymbal d. crash cymbal
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 12
TOP: Musical Orientation
14. Which approach to rhythm is the basic one used in jazz?
a. breath rhythm c. rubato
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Timbre refers to:
a. loudness of sound c. frequency of sound
b. quality of sound d. pitch of sound
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 8
TOP: Musical Orientation
2. A device inserted into the bell of a brass instrument to distort the sounds coming out is
called a:
a. valve c. mouthpiece
b. mute d. key
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 8
TOP: Musical Orientation
3. The use of unusual sounds for expressive purposes is known as:
a. timbre variation c. downbeat
b. polyrhythm d. scale
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 8
TOP: Musical Orientation
,4. Which is NOT an option for changing the pitch of a wind instrument?
a. changing the length of the tube c. blowing with increased intensity
b. playing notes of longer duration d. changing the embouchure
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: p. 9
TOP: Musical Orientation
5. Which mute enables the trumpet to emulate human speech most effectively?
a. cup mute c. plunger mute
b. Harmon mute d. straight mute
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 9
TOP: Musical Orientation
6. The glissando, or smear, is most characteristic of which brass instrument?
a. trumpet c. tuba
b. cornet d. trombone
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 9
TOP: Musical Orientation
7. All of the following describe the clarinet EXCEPT:
a. cylindrical instrument made of wood
b. standard instrument in New Orleans jazz style
c. played by the Swing Era bandleaders Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw
d. most common reed instrument in jazz
, ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: pp. 9–10
TOP: Musical Orientation
8. Which is NOT one of the kinds of saxophone most often played in jazz?
a. soprano
b. alto
c. tenor
d. baritone
e. bass
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 10
TOP: Musical Orientation
9. All of the following are basic functions of the rhythm section EXCEPT:
a. providing harmony c. providing the bass
b. providing the main melodic line d. providing percussion
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 10
TOP: Musical Orientation
10. Of these harmony instruments, which has been the most important for jazz during most of
its history?
a. banjo c. acoustic piano
b. vibraphone d. synthesizer
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 10
TOP: Musical Orientation
, 11. Which of the following is NOT one of the primary roles of the bass in the rhythm
section?
a. playing melodies
b. playing notes that support the harmony
c. providing a basic underlying rhythmic foundation
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 11
TOP: Musical Orientation
12. Which Latin percussion instrument does this describe: tall drums of equal height but
different diameters, with the smaller one assigned the lead role?
a. maracas c. timbales
b. guiro d. congas
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 12
TOP: Musical Orientation
13. Which part of the drum set consists of two cymbals controlled by a foot pedal?
a. tom-tom c. high-hat
b. ride cymbal d. crash cymbal
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 REF: p. 12
TOP: Musical Orientation
14. Which approach to rhythm is the basic one used in jazz?
a. breath rhythm c. rubato
