Kaori is looking at the score for a piece of music written in the key of C major with this chord progression: I-vi-ii-V. These chords are written in root position. Which chord begins at the HIGHEST position on the staff?

Question

Group of answer choices

I

vi

ii

V

Answer 1

In the key of C major, the chords in the progression I-vi-ii-V are as follows:

• I (C major): C - E - G
• vi (A minor): A - C - E
• ii (D minor): D - F - A
• V (G major): G - B - D

To determine which chord begins at the highest position on the staff, we should look at the root position of each chord and their lowest notes:

1. I (C major): Bottom note is C.
2. vi (A minor): Bottom note is A.
3. ii (D minor): Bottom note is D.
4. V (G major): Bottom note is G.

Now we can visualize the bottom notes of each chord:

• C (I) is lower than A (vi)
• A (vi) is lower than D (ii)
• D (ii) is lower than G (V)

Thus, the lowest note of the I chord is C and the lowest note of the V chord is G.

Since G is the highest note among the starting notes of the chords in root position, the chord that begins at the highest position on the staff is the V chord (G major).

So the answer to the question is:

V.