Which statement describes a real sequence?

• A. Second segment moves to a different tonal center.
• B. Second segment is exact intervallic transposition of the first.
• C. Only part of second segment is transposed.
• D. First segment transposed diatonically.

Answer: (B)

A real sequence happens when a melodic idea is repeated at a different pitch level while keeping the exact same interval structure. The second segment is an exact intervallic transposition of the first, meaning every interval between successive notes stays the same and the contour is preserved; you simply start on a different pitch. For example, if the first fragment moves up a whole step, then another whole step, then a half step, the second fragment will follow the identical pattern—starting on a new tonal center but with the same interval sequence throughout. This precise preservation of all intervals is what distinguishes a real sequence from merely modulating to a new key, transposing only part of the fragment, or transposing by scale steps.