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Subjects · Leaving Cert Music

Leaving Cert Music: Keys, scales & triads

How often Keys, scales & triads comes up on the Music papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Keys, scales & triads, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Keys, scales & triads.

(a)Which major key has a key signature of three sharps?
  1. E major
  2. A major
  3. D major
(b)What are the notes of chord V in D major?
  1. E, G, B
  2. G, B, D
  3. A, C sharp, E
(c)What is the tonic sol-fa name for the leading note (7th degree) of a major scale?
  1. Te
  2. Soh
  3. Lah
Show the answers

(a) A major

(b) A, C sharp, E

(c) Te

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Keys, scales & triads.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Paper 1, Q6, Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2024Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2023Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2022Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2021Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2019Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2018Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2017Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2016Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Keys, scales & triads questions

Keys, scales & triads, 3 marks

In G minor, why is chord V D, F sharp, A rather than D, F, A?

  1. F sharp is in the key signature of G minor
  2. Chord V is always a minor chord
  3. The 7th note (F) is raised to a leading note
Show the answer

The 7th note (F) is raised to a leading note

G minor's key signature has only B flat and E flat. The harmonic minor raises F to F sharp, making V a major chord that pulls strongly to the tonic.

Keys, scales & triads, 2 marks

What is the interval from C up to E flat?

  1. Perfect 4th
  2. Minor 3rd
  3. Major 3rd
Show the answer

Minor 3rd

C to E is a major 3rd (four semitones). Lowering the E by a semitone makes a minor 3rd (three semitones), the 3rd of a C minor chord.

Keys, scales & triads, 2 marks

What is the dominant key of E flat major?

  1. B flat major
  2. A flat major
  3. C minor
Show the answer

B flat major

The dominant is the 5th degree: E flat, F, G, A flat, B flat. B flat major has one flat fewer than E flat major, so its new note is A natural.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q4, Q5, Q6
2024Q4, Q5, Q6
2023Q4, Q5, Q6
2022Q4, Q5, Q6
2021Q4, Q5, Q6
2019Q4, Q5, Q6
2018Q4, Q5, Q6
2017Q4, Q5, Q6
2016Q4, Q5, Q6

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Keys, scales & triads questions

Keys, scales & triads, 2 marks

Which major key has one sharp, F sharp, in its key signature?

  1. D major
  2. F major
  3. G major
Show the answer

G major

G major needs F sharp so that its 7th note is a semitone below G. D major has two sharps and F major has one flat.

Keys, scales & triads, 2 marks

Which major key has one flat in its key signature?

  1. G major
  2. F major
  3. B flat major
Show the answer

F major

F major has one flat, B flat. B flat major has two flats and G major has one sharp.

Keys, scales & triads, 2 marks

How many sharps are in the key signature of D major?

  1. Two
  2. One
  3. Three
Show the answer

Two

D major has two sharps, F sharp and C sharp. Sharps are always added in the order F, C, G, D and so on.

Other Music topics

All of Leaving Cert Music