AP Music Theory Practice Quiz: Chord Inversions and Figures: Introduction to Figured Bass
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 16 questions to check your progress.
Question 1 of 16
All Questions (16)
A) The chordal third is the lowest sounding note.
B) The chordal fifth is the lowest sounding note.
C) The chordal root is the lowest sounding note.
D) The chord is built on the tonic scale degree.
Correct Answer: C
The content explicitly states: 'When the chordal root appears in the bass, the chord is said to be in root position.'
A) The root
B) The third
C) The fifth
D) The seventh
Correct Answer: B
The text specifies that 'First inversion... occur[s] when the chordal third... appear[s] in the bass.'
A) Root position
B) First inversion
C) Second inversion
D) Third inversion
Correct Answer: C
The content states that 'second inversion occur[s] when the chordal fifth, respectively, appear[s] in the bass.'
A) To indicate the scale degree of the chord's root.
B) To denote pitches at specific intervals above the given bass note.
C) To specify the quality of the chord (e.g., major or minor).
D) To provide a complete Roman numeral analysis.
Correct Answer: B
The text explains: 'The Arabic numerals, or figures, that appear in a figured bass denote pitches at specific intervals above each given bass note.'
A) The figures are a direct substitute for Roman numerals.
B) The figures imply the specific harmonies to which Roman numerals are then applied.
C) The figures indicate the chord's quality, while the Roman numerals indicate its inversion.
D) There is no functional relationship between figured bass and Roman numerals.
Correct Answer: B
According to the content, the Arabic numerals 'imply harmonies to which Roman numerals may be applied,' serving as a blueprint for the harmonic analysis.
A) Identifying only the root of each chord in the progression.
B) Providing a Roman numeral analysis without writing any notes.
C) Completing a full, four-part harmonic progression from the given bass and figures.
D) Transposing the bass line into several different keys.
Correct Answer: C
The text describes this task as to 'Complete a four-part harmonic progression by realizing a figured bass line.'
A) Tempo, dynamics, and articulation
B) Melody, harmony, and rhythm
C) Scale degree of the root, quality, and bass note
D) Key signature, time signature, and form
Correct Answer: C
The first point in the content states that the goal is to 'Identify chords using letters and Roman/Arabic numerals that indicate specific scale degree of the root, quality, and bass note.'
A) Root position chord
B) Chord inversion
C) Harmonic progression
D) Figured bass
Correct Answer: B
The text clearly states, 'When chord members other than the root appear in the bass, chord inversions result.'
A) Ignore the figures and determine the Roman numeral from the bass note's scale degree alone.
B) Use the figures to identify the full harmony, then determine the root and quality to assign a Roman numeral.
C) Convert the Arabic numerals of the figure directly into a Roman numeral.
D) Use the Roman numeral of the previous chord to predict the next one.
Correct Answer: B
The text implies a two-step process: the figures denote intervals to build a chord ('imply harmonies'), and then Roman numerals are applied to this identified harmony.
A) The intervals that should be played above the bass note.
B) The specific pitches of the upper voices.
C) The harmonic function of the chord based on the scale degree of its root.
D) The identity of the note in the bass.
Correct Answer: C
The text states that Roman numerals indicate the 'harmonic progression' and 'scale degree of the root,' which defines the chord's function within a key. Figures only indicate intervals above the bass.
A) Roman numerals
B) Arabic numerals
C) Chord letter names
D) Scale degree numbers
Correct Answer: B
The text makes this connection directly: 'The Arabic numerals, or figures, that appear in a figured bass...'
A) The root
B) The third
C) The fifth
D) The seventh
Correct Answer: C
The definition provided is that 'second inversion occur[s] when the chordal fifth... appear[s] in the bass.'
A) The figures indicate notes to be played below the bass note.
B) The figures are a shorthand for the chord's quality, independent of the bass note.
C) The figures specify a set of intervals to be built upward from the bass note.
D) The figures indicate the inversion of the previous chord in the progression.
Correct Answer: C
The text states that figures 'denote pitches at specific intervals above each given bass note,' meaning the bass note is the foundation from which the other notes are calculated.
A) To indicate the specific voicing of the upper three parts.
B) To indicate the harmonic progression.
C) To eliminate the need for a written-out bass line.
D) To specify the tempo and dynamics of the music.
Correct Answer: B
The content clearly states a key skill is to 'Use Roman numerals to indicate the harmonic progression implied by a figured bass.'
A) The quality of the chord (major, minor, etc.).
B) The total number of notes present in the chord.
C) The specific chord member that is placed in the bass.
D) The scale degree on which the chord's root is built.
Correct Answer: C
The text defines root position by the root being in the bass and inversions by 'chord members other than the root' (the third or fifth) being in the bass. This is the key distinction.
A) A completed four-part progression and a Roman numeral analysis.
B) A list of the intervals used and the key signature.
C) The original bass line and a description of each chord's quality.
D) A Roman numeral analysis and a list of all non-chord tones.
Correct Answer: A
The text combines these two elements in a single requirement: 'Complete a four-part harmonic progression by realizing a figured bass line and providing a Roman numeral analysis of the completed progression.'