neirocca sound-first music theory

Chords in Context

What is tested

You are asked to suggest suitable chords at marked points in a passage, using primary and secondary triads and the dominant seventh. This is the first question where there is more than one defensible answer, so understanding function matters more than memorising a table.

Common mistakes

Candidates pick a chord that contains the melody note and ignore the bass. Check that your chord supports both lines, and that you are not changing harmony faster than the passage can carry.

Practice with

The tool below checks your answer against the theory engine, so you get the same verdict a marker would.

Open the tool: Diatonic Chord Reference →

Read the lesson

Related reading

All topics in this exam