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Array of instruments (violin, piano, trumpet, flute, harp, drum, maracas, guitar) around a golden treble clef
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Musical Instruments

The number of strings on a violin, the Scottish instrument with an inflatable bag, the inventor of the saxophone, the lowest of the violin family, the origin of the sitar, that of the ukulele, the region of the djembe, the woodwind with a double reed: 15 questions on musical instruments, their making and their families.

15

Questions

2

Minutes

Tip: Use keys 1-4 to answer quickly

The 15 quiz questions

Question 1 : How many keys does a standard piano have?

Possible answers:

  • 76 keys
  • 88 keys
  • 96 keys
  • 108 keys

Explanation: A standard piano has 88 keys: 52 white and 36 black, covering more than 7 octaves.

Question 2 : How many strings does a violin have?

Possible answers:

  • 3 strings
  • 4 strings
  • 5 strings
  • 6 strings

Explanation: The violin has 4 strings tuned in fifths: G, D, A, E (from lowest to highest).

Question 3 : Who invented the saxophone?

Possible answers:

  • Antonio Stradivari
  • Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Adolphe Sax
  • Bartolomeo Cristofori

Explanation: Adolphe Sax, a Belgian instrument maker, patented the saxophone in 1846 in Paris.

Question 4 : Which wind instrument uses a double reed?

Possible answers:

  • The oboe
  • The saxophone
  • The clarinet
  • The flute

Explanation: The oboe uses a double reed (two pieces of cane), unlike the clarinet which has only one.

Question 5 : Which drum kit element produces the lowest sound?

Possible answers:

  • The toms
  • The cymbals
  • The snare drum
  • The bass drum

Explanation: The bass drum is the largest drum in a drum kit and produces the deepest sounds, operated by a foot pedal.

Question 6 : How many strings does a concert harp typically have?

Possible answers:

  • 36 strings
  • 47 strings
  • 54 strings
  • 62 strings

Explanation: The modern concert harp has 47 strings, covering 6 and a half octaves, with a system of 7 pedals for accidentals.

Question 7 : How many strings does a standard classical guitar have?

Possible answers:

  • 4 strings
  • 6 strings
  • 8 strings
  • 12 strings

Explanation: A classical guitar has 6 strings: nylon (3 treble) and wound metal (3 bass), tuned E-A-D-G-B-E.

Question 8 : Which percussion instrument is made of wooden bars?

Possible answers:

  • The xylophone
  • The glockenspiel
  • The vibraphone
  • The marimba

Explanation: The xylophone has wooden bars struck with mallets, unlike the vibraphone which has metal bars.

Question 9 : What material is a professional flute typically made of?

Possible answers:

  • Silver
  • Steel
  • Wood
  • Copper

Explanation: Professional concert flutes are made of solid silver or gold. Student models are made of silver-plated nickel silver.

Question 10 : From which country does the sitar, a famous stringed instrument, come?

Possible answers:

  • Turkey
  • India
  • Iran
  • China

Explanation: The sitar is a plucked string instrument from India, made famous in the West by Ravi Shankar.

Question 11 : From which region of the world does the djembe originate?

Possible answers:

  • South America
  • West Africa
  • Eastern Europe
  • Southeast Asia

Explanation: The djembe is a percussion instrument originating from West Africa, particularly Mali, Guinea, and Senegal.

Question 12 : Which Scottish wind instrument uses an inflatable bag?

Possible answers:

  • The biniou
  • The bombarde
  • The bagpipe
  • The fife

Explanation: The bagpipe uses a leather bag filled with air, a musical symbol of Scotland.

Question 13 : What are the different sets of pipes in an organ called?

Possible answers:

  • The keyboards
  • The pedals
  • The registers
  • The bellows

Explanation: Stops are sets of pipes that produce different timbres. The organist selects them via drawknobs or buttons.

Question 14 : What is the lowest-pitched instrument in the violin family?

Possible answers:

  • The double bass
  • The cello
  • The viola da gamba
  • The viola

Explanation: The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the orchestra.

Question 15 : From which country does the ukulele originate?

Possible answers:

  • Hawaii (USA)
  • Japan
  • Portugal
  • Tahiti (France)

Explanation: The ukulele was born in Hawaii in the late 19th century, inspired by a Portuguese instrument called the "braguinha" brought by immigrants.

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