Which description defines a false sequence?

• A. Second segment is exact intervallic transposition of the first
• B. The second segment moves to a different tonal center
• C. Only part of first segment is transposed
• D. First segment transposed but kept in diatonic scale

Answer: (C)

A false sequence happens when you expect a repeated melodic idea to be carried forward by a uniform shift in pitch, but the second appearance doesn’t keep that uniform interval relationship. In a true sequence, every note in the second segment is the first segment transposed by the same fixed interval, so the overall contour and the interval pattern stay intact, even if the tonal center changes. If the second segment moves to a different tonal center, that can still be a proper sequence as long as the whole segment is transposed by the same interval. Keeping the transposition diatonic is also fine and can still be a consistent sequence. The idea of a false sequence is most clearly shown when only part of the first segment is transposed, so the intervallic pattern isn’t preserved across the whole second segment. That partial transposition breaks the uniform relationship, which is what defines a false sequence.