Author: Mauvin Sequeira

Q1. What does the word “xylophone” derive from in Greek?
A. Xylon (metal) and phone (sound)
B. Xylon (wood) and phone (sound)
C. Xylon (stone) and phone (voice)
D. Xylon (bamboo) and phone (tone)
Answer: B. Xylon (wood) and phone (sound)

Q2. The xylophone belongs to which family of musical instruments?
A. String
B. Wind
C. Percussion
D. Brass
Answer: C. Percussion

Q3. Concert xylophones typically have bars made from which material?
A. Rosewood or padauk
B. Bamboo
C. Metal
D. Fiberglass only
Answer: A. Rosewood or padauk

Q1. What is the standard tuning of the four strings on a full-size cello, from lowest to highest pitch?
A. G-D-A-E
B. C-G-D-A
C. A-D-G-C
D. E-A-D-G
Answer: B. C-G-D-A

Q2. The cello belongs to which family of musical instruments?
A. Woodwind
B. Brass
C. String (violin family)
D. Percussion
Answer: C. String (violin family)

Q3. Approximately when was the modern form of the cello developed in northern Italy?
A. 14th century
B. 16th century
C. 18th century
D. 20th century
Answer: B. 16th century

Q1. What is the harmonica also commonly known as?
A. French harp or mouth organ
B. Blues flute
C. Pocket piano
D. Reed whistle
Answer: A. French harp or mouth organ

Q2. The harmonica is classified as which type of musical instrument?
A. Free reed wind instrument
B. Stringed percussion instrument
C. Free reed wind instrument
D. Membrane aerophone
Answer: C. Free reed wind instrument

Q3. What ancient Chinese instrument is considered the precursor to the modern harmonica?
A. Sheng
B. Erhu
C. Pipa
D. Guzheng
Answer: A. Sheng

Q1. Who invented the saxophone?
A. Hector Berlioz
B. Adolphe Sax
C. Henri Selmer
D. Clarence Yamaha
Answer: B. Adolphe Sax

Q2. In what year was the saxophone patented?
A. 1846
B. 1850
C. 1854
D. 1922
Answer: A. 1846

Q3. Despite being made of brass, the saxophone is classified as which family of instruments?
A. Brass
B. Percussion
C. Woodwind
D. String
Answer: C. Woodwind

Q1. What is the most common type of trumpet used today?
A. Piccolo trumpet
B. Bass trumpet
C. Bb trumpet
D.Keyed trumpet
Answer: C. Bb trumpet

Q2. How is sound primarily produced on a trumpet?
A. By striking the bell
B. By buzzing the lips into the mouthpiece
C. By sliding a trombone-like mechanism
D. By pressing keys like a clarinet
Answer: B. By buzzing the lips into the mouthpiece

Q3. Modern trumpets typically have how many piston valves?
A. Six
B. Two
C. Three
D. Five
Answer: C. Three

Q1. What family of musical instruments does the triangle belong to?
A. String
B. Woodwind
C. Percussion
D. Brass
Answer: C. Percussion

Q2. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, the triangle is categorized as what type of instrument?
A. Membranophone
B. Chordophone
C. Aerophone
D. Idiophone
Answer: D. Idiophone

Q3. What is the primary material used for modern orchestral triangles?
A. Wood
B. Steel
C. Plastic
D. Brass
Answer: B. Steel

Q1. What is the primary material used for strings on a classical guitar?
A. Steel
B. Nylon
C. Bronze
D. Nickel
Answer: B. Nylon

Q2. Who is widely credited with developing the modern classical guitar design in the mid-19th century?
A. Antonio de Torres Jurado
B. Leo Fender
C. Les Paul
D. Christian Frederick Martin
Answer: A. Antonio de Torres Jurado

Q3. Which part of the guitar is responsible for amplifying sound on an acoustic model?
A. The headstock
B. The soundhole
C. The bridge pins
D. The truss rod
Answer: B. The soundhole

Q1. What is the standard number of strings on a violin?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
Answer: B. 4

Q2. Which string on the violin is the lowest in pitch?
A. E
B. A
C. D
D. G
Answer: D. G

Q3. In standard tuning, what are the notes of the violin’s open strings from lowest to highest?
A. G, D, A, E
B. E, A, D, G
C. A, D, G, E
D. G, A, D, E
Answer: A. G, D, A, E

Q1. What is the primary role of the mridangam in Carnatic music?
A. Providing melody
B. Rhythmic accompaniment
C. Drone support
D. Harmonic filling
Answer: B. Rhythmic accompaniment

Q2. The body of a traditional mridangam is typically hollowed out from which wood?
A. Jackfruit
B. Teak
C. Rosewood
D. Sandalwood
Answer: A. Jackfruit

Q3. Which side of the mridangam produces the bass sound?
A. Valanthalai (right head)
B. Thoppi (left head)
C. Both equally
D. The center patch
Answer: B. Thoppi (left head)

Q1. What is the most common name for the large drum played with a foot pedal in a standard drum set?
A. Snare drum
B. Tom-tom
C. Bass drum
D. Floor tom
Answer: C. Bass drum

Q2. Which component of the drum set consists of two cymbals operated by a foot pedal?
A. Hi-hat
B. Crash cymbal
C. Ride cymbal
D. China cymbal
Answer: A. Hi-hat

Q3. What is the primary function of the snare drum in a drum set?
A. To provide deep low tones
B. To produce a sharp, cracking backbeat with snares underneath
C. To serve as the main time-keeping cymbal
D. To create accents and crashes
Answer: B. To produce a sharp, cracking backbeat with snares underneath