AP Music Theory Flashcards: Seventh Chord Inversions and Figures
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is the primary purpose of analyzing a performed harmonic progression with Roman and Arabic numerals?
The primary purpose is to identify the harmonic function of each chord within the progression.
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What is the primary purpose of analyzing a performed harmonic progression with Roman and Arabic numerals?
The primary purpose is to identify the harmonic function of each chord within the progression.
If you hear a seventh chord in a piece of music and identify its chordal seventh is in the bass, which inversion is it?
This would be the third inversion of the seventh chord.
How many inversions are possible for a standard seventh chord?
A seventh chord has the potential for three inversions, as the third, fifth, or seventh can be in the bass.
What do the Arabic numerals (figures) accompanying a Roman numeral specify for a seventh chord?
The Arabic numerals specify which member of the chord is in the bass, thereby indicating the specific inversion.
What defines the third inversion of a seventh chord?
The third inversion of a seventh chord is defined by having the chordal seventh as the lowest-sounding note, or bass note.
What information do Roman and Arabic numerals provide when analyzing a seventh chord?
They indicate the scale degree of the chord's root, its quality, and which chord member is functioning as the bass note.
When analyzing a chord in notated music, what two key elements does a full Roman/Arabic numeral analysis allow you to identify?
The analysis allows you to identify the scale degree of the root and which specific note of the chord is written in the bass.
In harmonic analysis, what does the Roman numeral itself represent?
The Roman numeral represents the scale degree of the chord's root and indicates the chord's quality (e.g., major, minor, diminished).
How would you begin to analyze the seventh chords in a performed piece of music?
You would listen to the harmonic progression and provide an analysis using Roman and Arabic numerals to identify the function of each chord.
What is meant by the "harmonic function" of a chord?
Harmonic function refers to the role a chord plays within a harmonic progression, which is identified through Roman numeral analysis.