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ABRSM Music Theory·THEORY · Music Theory·UnitTHEORY · Unit 01Access: Free tier

Grade 1

Prepare for Grade 1 with ABRSM Music Theory practice questions covering 5 topics. Part of Music Theory — build your knowledge and track your progress with Go Music Theory.

Questions
405
Topics
5
Access
Free

What’s in it.

5 topics
  • Topic 01

    Note Values and Rests

    89 questions
  • Topic 02

    Time Signatures and Rhythm

    69 questions
  • Topic 03

    Pitch and Notation

    81 questions
  • Topic 04

    Keys and Scales

    79 questions
  • Topic 05

    Terms, Signs and Performance Directions

    87 questions

Sample questions

3 of many

A few questions from this unit, with the answer and a full explanation. The complete bank is available when you start practising.

  1. Are 'decrescendo' and 'diminuendo' two different things, or do they mean the same?

    • They are opposites -- one means louder and the other means quieter
    • They mean the same thing -- both mean gradually getting quieter
      Correct answer
    • Decrescendo is used for a large decrease; diminuendo for a small decrease
    • They are different -- decrescendo means getting slower, diminuendo means getting quieter
    Explanation

    Decrescendo and diminuendo are synonymous -- both mean gradually getting quieter. They can be used interchangeably. Both can be represented by the closing hairpin sign: >. At Grade 1, students need to know that these two terms have the same meaning.

  2. What does a minim look like?

    • A hollow note head with no stem
    • A hollow note head with a stem and one flag
    • A hollow note head with a stem
      Correct answer
    • A filled-in note head with a stem and one flag
    Explanation

    A minim (half note) appears as a hollow (open) oval note head with a straight stem. Unlike a semibreve, it has a stem; unlike a crotchet, its note head is hollow rather than filled in.

  3. A piece has an end repeat sign at bar 8 but no start repeat sign anywhere. What should the performer do?

    • Stop playing at bar 8
    • Repeat only bar 8
    • Do not repeat -- the end repeat sign is an error
    • Repeat from the very beginning of the piece
      Correct answer
    Explanation

    If there is an end repeat sign but no start repeat sign, the performer should repeat from the very beginning of the piece. The absence of a start repeat sign means the repeated section starts at bar 1.