AP Music Theory Practice Quiz: Embellishing Tones: Identifying and Writing Suspensions; Identifying Retardations

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 14 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 14

According to the provided content, suspensions and retardations are common classifications of what type of musical element?

A)Harmonic tonesB)Nonharmonic tonesC)Root movementsD)Chordal inversions

All Questions (14)

According to the provided content, suspensions and retardations are common classifications of what type of musical element?

A) Harmonic tones

B) Nonharmonic tones

C) Root movements

D) Chordal inversions

Correct Answer: B

The text states that 'Common classifications of nonharmonic tones also include suspension... and retardation.'

In a figured bass or Roman numeral progression, what do the Arabic numerals in a '4–3' figure primarily indicate?

A) A specific chord inversion

B) The root and third of a triad

C) A specific nonharmonic tone

D) The tempo of the progression

Correct Answer: C

The content specifies that 'Arabic numerals may be used to indicate specific nonharmonic tones such as 4–3 (implying a suspension).'

What specific type of nonharmonic tone is implied by the figured bass notation '4–3'?

A) A passing tone

B) A retardation

C) A suspension

D) An appoggiatura

Correct Answer: C

The provided text explicitly states that the figured bass '4–3' implies a suspension.

Based on the AP Music Theory exam requirements mentioned, what is the key difference in the skills students must demonstrate for suspensions versus retardations?

A) Students must notate suspensions but only aurally identify retardations.

B) Students must identify and notate suspensions, but only identify retardations.

C) Students must identify retardations but only notate suspensions.

D) Students must analyze both equally, but retardations appear less frequently.

Correct Answer: B

The content clearly outlines that for the AP exam, 'students need to identify and notate suspensions. They only need to identify retardations.'

Which of the following is listed as a specific classification of a suspension?

A) Anticipation

B) Neighbor tone

C) Rearticulated suspension

D) Escape tone

Correct Answer: C

The text lists 'suspension (including rearticulated suspension and chain of suspensions)' as a common classification of nonharmonic tones.

A student taking the AP Music Theory exam is asked to write the upper voices over a given Roman numeral progression that includes a 4-3 suspension. Which skill is being tested?

A) Identifying a retardation in performed music

B) Notating an embellishing tone from a Roman numeral progression

C) Identifying a suspension in performed music

D) Identifying a retardation in notated music

Correct Answer: B

The task requires the student to 'Notate embellishing tones... indicated in a... Roman numeral progression,' which aligns with the AP exam requirement to notate suspensions.

According to the provided text, what is the requirement for students regarding retardations on the AP Music Theory exam?

A) They must be able to notate them from a figured bass.

B) They must be able to identify and notate them.

C) They only need to be able to identify them.

D) They are not tested on retardations.

Correct Answer: C

The content explicitly states, 'They only need to identify retardations.'

The provided text mentions that embellishing tones can be identified in which two formats?

A) Performed music and figured bass

B) Roman numerals and lead-sheet symbols

C) Performed music and notated music

D) Notated music and aural dictation

Correct Answer: C

The first point in the content states the need to 'Identify types of embellishing tones... in—a. performed music b. notated music.'

Which of the following terms is used in the text to describe a series of consecutive suspensions?

A) Suspension sequence

B) Chain of suspensions

C) Suspension series

D) Linked suspensions

Correct Answer: B

The text lists 'chain of suspensions' as a specific classification included under the general category of suspension.

If a question on the AP Music Theory exam presents a notated musical excerpt and asks you to circle a retardation, what is the single skill being assessed?

A) Notating a retardation

B) Identifying a retardation

C) Notating a suspension

D) Identifying a suspension

Correct Answer: B

According to the text, the AP exam only requires students to identify retardations, not notate them. Circling the nonharmonic tone in a notated excerpt is a form of identification.

Suspensions and retardations are examples of what broader category of tones?

A) Chord tones

B) Embellishing tones

C) Leading tones

D) Diatonic tones

Correct Answer: B

The first point of the content is to 'Identify types of embellishing tones, including nonharmonic tones,' and the third point lists suspensions and retardations as classifications of nonharmonic tones.

Which statement accurately reflects the full scope of skills required for suspensions on the AP Music Theory exam, as described in the text?

A) Students must only identify suspensions in notated music.

B) Students must only notate suspensions from figured bass.

C) Students must be able to both identify and notate suspensions.

D) Students must identify suspensions and explain their function.

Correct Answer: C

The text states, 'When taking the AP Music Theory exam, students need to identify and notate suspensions.' This covers both skills.

The ability to write out the correct notes for a suspension when given a figured bass line falls under which skill mentioned in the content?

A) Identifying embellishing tones in performed music

B) Identifying retardations

C) Notating embellishing tones

D) Identifying a chain of suspensions

Correct Answer: C

The second point of the content is to 'Notate embellishing tones... indicated in a figured bass.' Writing the notes for a suspension from figured bass is a direct application of this skill.

A test item requires a student to listen to a short musical phrase and circle the term 'suspension' from a list of nonharmonic tones. This question assesses the skill of identifying embellishing tones in which context?

A) Notated music

B) A Roman numeral progression

C) A figured bass

D) Performed music

Correct Answer: D

The question describes an aural task ('listen to a short musical phrase'), which directly corresponds to the skill of identifying embellishing tones in 'performed music' as stated in the first point of the content.