Music Quiz Questions and Answers

50 music questions with answers: classical, pop, Afrobeats, K-pop, Bollywood and more.

50 questions · tap “Show answer” under each one · Answer key

1. Who composed the 'Moonlight Sonata'?

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   Ludwig van Beethoven

   The nickname came from a critic after Beethoven's death. Source

2. Who composed the ballet 'Swan Lake'?

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   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

   It was first performed in Moscow in 1877. Source

3. Which Polish composer is famous for his piano nocturnes?

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   Frédéric Chopin

   Almost all of his works include the piano. Source

4. Which is the largest bowed string instrument in an orchestra?

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   Double bass

   Players stand or sit on a tall stool to play it. Source

5. In music, what does 'tempo' mean?

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   Speed

   Tempo is often measured in beats per minute. Source

6. Which clef is also called the G clef?

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   Treble clef

   Its curl wraps around the line for the note G. Source

7. How many semitones are in an octave?

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   12

   On a piano that's 7 white keys and 5 black keys. Source

8. What is the lowest male singing voice?

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   Bass

   The highest male voice is usually the tenor. Source

9. Which singer was called the 'Godfather of Soul'?

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   James Brown

   He was a huge influence on funk and hip-hop. Source

10. Which Beatle wrote the solo hit 'Imagine'?

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    John Lennon

    It came out in 1971, a year after the band split. Source

11. Which rapper's real name is Marshall Mathers?

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    Eminem

    He grew up in Detroit. Source

12. Which Canadian singer was discovered through his YouTube videos as a teenager?

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    Justin Bieber

    He was found by a music manager in 2008. Source

13. Which family band did Michael Jackson sing in as a child?

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    The Jackson 5

    He was the youngest of the five brothers in the group. Source

14. Which instrument is often called the 'king of instruments'?

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    Pipe organ

    Large organs can have thousands of pipes. Source

15. Which instruments are shaken and are often made from gourds filled with seeds?

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    Maracas

    They are a key sound in Latin American music. Source

16. Which brass instrument uses a slide to change notes?

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    Trombone

    Moving the slide makes the tube longer or shorter. Source

17. What does a DJ use to 'scratch' records?

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    A turntable

    Scratching began in New York hip-hop in the 1970s. Source

18. Which music streaming service was founded in Sweden in 2006?

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    Spotify

    Deezer is French; Tidal began in Norway. Source

19. Which British band released 'Yellow' and 'Viva la Vida'?

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    Coldplay

    The band formed in London in 1997. Source

20. Bono is the lead singer of which Irish band?

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    U2

    U2 formed in Dublin in 1976. Source

21. Which K-pop group released 'How You Like That' in 2020?

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    Blackpink

    Blackpink's members are Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. Source

22. In which Bollywood film is 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' danced on top of a moving train?

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    Dil Se..

    Shah Rukh Khan dances on the train's roof. Source

23. Which South African singer was known as 'Mama Africa'?

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    Miriam Makeba

    Her 1967 hit 'Pata Pata' became famous worldwide. Source

24. Angélique Kidjo, a Grammy-winning singer, is from which country?

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    Benin

    She sings in Fon, Yoruba, French and English. Source

25. Which Senegalese singer recorded '7 Seconds' with Neneh Cherry?

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    Youssou N'Dour

    It was a big hit across Europe in 1994. Source

26. Which Nigerian star released the 2017 hit 'Fall'?

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    Davido

    His full name is David Adeleke. Source

27. Which Puerto Rican singer had a hit with 'Livin' la Vida Loca'?

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    Ricky Martin

    He first became famous in the boy band Menudo. Source

28. Which Swedish DJ released 'Wake Me Up' in 2013?

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    Avicii

    His real name was Tim Bergling. Source

29. Which Norwegian band sang 'Take On Me' (1985)?

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    a-ha

    Its pencil-sketch video is one of the most famous music videos. Source

30. Which musical features the song 'Memory'?

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    Cats

    It's based on poems by T. S. Eliot. Source

31. Who wrote the music for 'The Phantom of the Opera' musical?

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    Andrew Lloyd Webber

    It ran on Broadway for 35 years. Source

32. Which rock band's logo is a pair of lips with a tongue sticking out?

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    The Rolling Stones

    The logo was designed in 1970. Source

33. How many members did the Spice Girls have?

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    5

    Each had a nickname, like Baby and Sporty. Source

34. Which instrument does Yo-Yo Ma play?

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    Cello

    He gave his first public concert at age five. Source

35. Which jazz singer was nicknamed 'Lady Day'?

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    Billie Holiday

    Saxophonist Lester Young gave her the nickname. Source

36. What is Europe's yearly song contest between countries called?

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    Eurovision Song Contest

    It was first held in 1956; Australia has taken part since 2015. Source

37. What is a tabla?

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    A pair of hand drums

    It's central to North Indian classical music. Source

38. The kora, a 21-string harp-lute, comes from which region?

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    West Africa

    Griots, West African storytellers, have played it for centuries. Source

39. Which instrument is Kenny G known for?

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    Saxophone

    He mostly plays the soprano saxophone. Source

40. Who composed 'Boléro'?

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    Maurice Ravel

    The same melody repeats for about 15 minutes, growing louder. Source

41. Which opera by Bizet includes the famous 'Habanera'?

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    Carmen

    It's set in Seville, Spain. Source

42. Which Italian composer wrote the operas 'La Traviata' and 'Aida'?

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    Giuseppe Verdi

    'Aida' is set in ancient Egypt. Source

43. Which Puccini opera is set in Nagasaki, Japan?

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    Madama Butterfly

    Puccini's 'Turandot' is set in China. Source

44. Which singer was named a National Hero of Barbados in 2021?

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    Rihanna

    Her full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Source

45. Which band released 'Wonderwall' in 1995?

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    Oasis

    Oasis came from Manchester. Source

46. Which Mexican singer is known as 'El Sol de México'?

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    Luis Miguel

    He had his first hit as a child in the 1980s. Source

47. Which instrument does Lang Lang play?

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    Piano

    He is one of China's best-known musicians. Source

48. Which Japanese word means singing along to recorded music?

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    Karaoke

    Karaoke means 'empty orchestra'. Source

49. Which Filipina singer won a Tony Award for 'Miss Saigon' in 1991?

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    Lea Salonga

    She was also the singing voice of Disney's Jasmine and Mulan. Source

50. Which Pakistani band released 'Dil Dil Pakistan' in 1987?

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    Vital Signs

    The song is often called Pakistan's unofficial national song. Source