Illinois Music Content Area Practice Test 2025 - Free Music Education Practice Questions and Study Guide

Question: 1 / 400

What best describes a chord progression?

A series of chord changes with no specific goal

A sequence of dissonant chords only

A series of chord changes that aims for a definite goal

A chord progression is best described as a series of chord changes that aims for a definite goal. This understanding is rooted in the way music is structured; chord progressions create a sense of movement and direction within a piece. They often establish a tonal center and lead listeners through emotional and musical developments, creating tension and resolution.

For example, in many popular music styles, progressions like the I-IV-V-I (where the chords are built on the first, fourth, and fifth degrees of a scale) guide the listener through a musical journey, resolving back to the tonic chord, which feels complete and satisfying. This sense of function and purpose differentiates a chord progression from simply random or dissonant sequences, which may not establish a clear musical goal.

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A combination of two chords played simultaneously

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