Category: Music

Q1. What does the name “Ektara” literally mean in Sanskrit-derived languages?
A. Two strings
B. One string
C. Many strings
D. Bamboo lute
Answer: B. One string

Q2. The Ektara is primarily classified as which type of musical instrument?
A. Stringed drone lute
B. Percussion instrument
C. Wind instrument
D. Bowed instrument
Answer: A. Stringed drone lute

Q3. Which material is most commonly used for the resonator body of a traditional Ektara?
A. Metal bowl
B. Plastic container
C. Dried bottle gourd
D. Solid wood block
Answer: C. Dried bottle gourd

Q1. What is the Guzheng commonly known as in English?
A. Chinese harp
B. Chinese zither
C. Chinese lute
D. Chinese flute
Answer: B. Chinese zither

Q2. Approximately how many years of history does the Guzheng have?
A. About 500 years
B. About 1,000 years
C. Over 2,500 years
D. About 3,000 years
Answer: C. Over 2,500 years

Q3. During which ancient Chinese period did the Guzheng originate?
A. Warring States Period
B. Han Dynasty
C. Tang Dynasty
D. Ming Dynasty
Answer: A. Warring States Period

Q1. What is the primary characteristic that makes the sarangi unique among Indian string instruments?
A. Its plucked strings similar to the sitar
B. Its ability to closely mimic the human voice with gamaks and meends
C. Its use of frets for precise notes
D. Its percussion-like resonance
Answer: B. Its ability to closely mimic the human voice with gamaks and meends

Q2. The classical sarangi is primarily associated with which musical tradition?
A. Carnatic music of South India
B. Western orchestral music
C. Hindustani classical music of North India
D. Nepali folk exclusively
Answer: C. Hindustani classical music of North India

Q3. How many main playing (melody) strings does the classical Indian sarangi typically have?
A. Four
B. Three
C. Six
D. One
Answer: B. Three

Q1. What is the tabla primarily known as in Indian music?
A. A string instrument
B. A wind instrument
C. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hand drums
D. A keyboard instrument
Answer: C. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hand drums

Q2. Which drum is the smaller, higher-pitched one in a tabla set, typically played with the dominant hand?
A. Bayan
B. Dayan
C. Pakhawaj
D. Mridangam
Answer: B. Dayan

Q3. Which drum is the larger, bass one in a tabla set, typically played with the non-dominant hand?
A. Bayan
B. Dayan
C. Duggi
D. Dholak
Answer: A. Bayan

Q1. What type of musical instrument is the dholak classified as?
A. String instrument
B. Wind instrument
C. Two-headed hand drum (membranophone)
D. Keyboard percussion
Answer: C. Two-headed hand drum (membranophone)

Q2. Approximately how long is a standard dholak?
A. 8 to 12 inches
B. 16 to 24 inches
C. 30 to 40 inches
D. 5 to 10 inches
Answer: B. 16 to 24 inches

Q3. Which material is most commonly used for the shell (body) of a traditional dholak?
A. Metal
B. Bamboo
C. Wood (such as sheesham or mango)
D. Fiberglass
Answer: C. Wood (such as sheesham or mango)

Q1. What is the primary reason the yueqin is nicknamed “moon guitar” or “moon lute”?
A. It is played primarily at night under moonlight
B. Its round body resembles the shape of a full moon
C. It was invented during a lunar festival
D. Its sound evokes the quiet of the night sky
Answer: B. Its round body resembles the shape of a full moon

Q2. The yueqin evolved from which ancient Chinese string instrument?
A. Pipa
B. Guzheng
C. Ruan
D. Erhu
Answer: C. Ruan

Q3. During which Chinese dynasty did the yueqin become known by its current name?
A. Tang Dynasty
B. Jin Dynasty
C. Han Dynasty
D. Qing Dynasty
Answer: A. Tang Dynasty

Q1. What is the oud primarily classified as in musical instrument families?
A. A percussion instrument
B. A wind instrument
C. A short-necked lute-type chordophone
D. A keyboard instrument
Answer: C. A short-necked lute-type chordophone

Q2. The name “oud” in Arabic most commonly refers to what?
A. A type of reed
B. Wood or a flexible stick
C. A metal string
D. A bird’s feather
Answer: B. Wood or a flexible stick

Q3. Which ancient Persian instrument is considered the direct ancestor of the modern oud?
A. Tar
B. Setar
C. Barbat
D. Qanun
Answer: C. Barbat

Q1. What family of musical instruments does the historical spinet belong to?
A. Piano family
B. Harpsichord family
C. Organ family
D. String family
Answer: B. Harpsichord family

Q2. How is sound primarily produced on a historical spinet?
A. By plectra plucking strings
B. By hammers striking strings
C. By air blowing through pipes
D. By tangents striking strings
Answer: A. By plectra plucking strings

Q3. What is the typical shape of the most common type of historical spinet?
A. Rectangular
B. Oval
C. Wing-shaped or bentside
D. Square
Answer: C. Wing-shaped or bentside

Q1. What is the primary sound production mechanism of the celesta?
A. Vibrating strings struck by hammers
B. Metal bars struck by felt hammers
C. Tuning forks vibrated by keys
D. Wooden plates bowed with a mechanism
Answer: B. Metal bars struck by felt hammers

Q2. The name “celesta” derives from a French word meaning what?
A. Bell-like
B. Sparkling
C. Heavenly
D. Mystic
Answer: C. Heavenly

Q3. In which year was the modern celesta patented?
A. 1860
B. 1886
C. 1892
D. 1900
Answer: B. 1886

Q1. What is the primary distinguishing feature of the cornet’s bore compared to the trumpet?
A. Cylindrical throughout
B. Conical, gradually widening
C. Completely straight
D. Narrower at the bell
Answer: B. Conical, gradually widening

Q2. The modern valved cornet was developed in which decade?
A. 1600s
B. 1750s
C. 1820s
D. 1900s
Answer: C. 1820s

Q3. Which instrument is the cornet historically derived from?
A. Post horn
B. Natural trumpet
C. French horn
D. Flugelhorn
Answer: A. Post horn