Multiple choice quiz questions, free for you to use on the subject of musical instruments

Ostrich tuning, orchestras and ouds are all covered in this set of twenty trivia questions, free for you to use in your quiz.

Get plucking!

1. In a standard orchestra layout, where are the violins, harp and grand piano all placed?

   A: To the conductor's left

   B: To the conductor's right

   To the conductor's left

   Modern arrangement pioneered by Leopold Stokowski, English conductor working in America

   source

2. Armenia's Eurovision song of 2010 included a duduk. Which instrument does a duduk most resemble?

   A: Harp

   B: Trumpet

   C: Recorder

   Recorder

   A Double reed instrument. The song was called 'Apricot Stone'.

   source

3. What kind of musical instrument is a marimba?

   A: Drum

   B: Trumpet

   C: Xylophone

   Xylophone

   a percussion instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars struck with yarn or rubber mallets to produce musical tones. Resonators or pipes suspended underneath the bars amplify their sound

   source

4. Which musical instrument was British musician Jacqueline Du Pré most famous for playing?

   A: Cello

   B: Saxophone

   C: Xylophone

   Cello

   Her career was cut short by multiple sclerosis, which forced her to stop performing at the age of 28. She battled the illness for many years until her death at the age of 42. She died in 1987

   source

5. Early in her career, Madonna was in a band called Breakfast Club. What instrument did she play?

   A: Guitar

   B: Drums

   C: Banjo

   Drums

   0

   source

6. What kind of musical instrument is a zither?

   A: Stringed Instrument

   B: Woodwind Instrument

   C: A kind of xylophone

   Stringed instrument

   A bit like a guitar but with more strings and without a neck. Can be plyed by plucking strings, bowing strings or hitting them with small hammers

   source

7. Which musical instrument completes the title of Tom Dice's song for Belgium in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest: "Me And My…"

   A: Guitar

   B: Piano

   C: Synthesizer

   Guitar

   The song was called 'Me And My Guitar' and finished 6th place.

   source

8. There is a traditional musical instrument from Arabia called an Oud. What does it most look like?

   A: Pan Pipes

   B: Mandolin

   Mandolin

   Even more similar to a lute.

   source

9. How many strings does a full-sized concert pedal harp have?

   A: 47 strings

   B: 87 strings

   C: 127 strings

   47 strings

   0

   source

10. In Guns n Roses, what instrument did Duff McKagan play?

    A: Bass guitar

    B: Drums

    C: Keyboards

    Bass guitar

    0

    source

11. What kind of musical instrument is the Charango, A traditional musical instrument of Peru?

    A: Flute

    B: Guitar

    C: Drum

    Guitar

    Small guitar with ten strings, like a more jangly ukulele

    source

12. Born in 1909, which clarinetist and band leader was known as The King of Swing?

    A: Benny Goodman

    B: Count Basie

    C: Oscar Peterson

    Benny Goodman

    The other two are best known as pianists

    source

13. What musical instrument is Ringo Starr holding on the album cover of 'Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band'?

    A: Guitar

    B: Trumpet

    C: Double Bass

    Trumpet

    Wearing a pink military outfit

    source

14. The Japanese Yamaha corporation make many things, but what was their first product back in 1887?

    A: Motorbikes

    B: Pianos

    C: Sofas

    Pianos

    0

    source

15. On a six-string guitar with standard tuning, what note sounded by the top and bottom strings when played open?

    A: C

    B: D

    C: E

    D: F

    E

    0

    source

16. What was the first name of Mr. Fender who founded the famous guitar company of the same name?

    A: Art

    B: Kurt

    C: Leo

    Leo

    Full name was Clarence Leonidas Fender. Known as Leo.

    source

17. What kind of musical instrument is a oboe?

    A: Strings

    B: Woodwind

    C: Brass

    Woodwind

    0

    source

18. The piccolo is a half-size version of which other woodwind instrument?

    A: Bassoon

    B: Clarinet

    C: Flute

    Flute

    0

    source

19. Traditional pan pipes are open at the end you blow into, but what about the other end?

    A: Pipes are closed at the end

    B: Pipes are open at the end

    Pipes are closed at the end

    0

    source

20. What kind of bird gives its name to an unusual guitar tuning in which every string has the same note, notably used by Lou Reed?

    A: Ostrich

    B: Owl

    C: Swan

    Ostrich

    0

    source