Dholak Quiz Questions and Answers
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)
Q4. What is applied to the larger (bass) drumhead of a dholak to lower its pitch?
A. A compound called “masala” (tar, clay, and sand)
B. Water
C. Oil only
D. Metal rings
Answer: A. A compound called “masala” (tar, clay, and sand)
Q5. Which hand typically plays the smaller, higher-pitched head of the dholak?
A. The weaker hand
B. The dominant hand
C. Both hands equally
D. The left hand only
Answer: B. The dominant hand
Q6. In which musical genre is the dholak NOT commonly used?
A. Qawwali
B. Bhajan
C. Western symphony orchestra
D. Bhangra
Answer: C. Western symphony orchestra
Q7. What is the primary difference between a dholak and a dhol?
A. The dholak is larger and played with sticks
B. The dholak uses synthetic heads exclusively
C. The dhol is hand-played only
D. The dholak is smaller, hand-played, and has closer-sized heads
Answer: D. The dholak is smaller, hand-played, and has closer-sized heads
Q8. Which skin is traditionally used for the smaller (treble) head of a dholak?
A. Buffalo skin
B. Goat skin
C. Deer skin
D. Plastic only
Answer: B. Goat skin
Q9. How is a dholak commonly tuned in the Indian subcontinent?
A. With nuts and bolts or rope and steel rings (usually one set for treble)
B. Only with hooks on both sides
C. With no tuning mechanism
D. Using electronic tuners
Answer: A. With nuts and bolts or rope and steel rings (usually one set for treble)
Q10. In which region has the dholak gained popularity through indentured immigrants?
A. Europe
B. Japan
C. Caribbean (e.g., Trinidad, Guyana)
D. Australia
Answer: C. Caribbean (e.g., Trinidad, Guyana)
Q11. Which playing position is NOT typical for the dholak?
A. On the player’s lap
B. Pressed down with one knee while sitting
C. Hung from the neck like a guitar
D. While standing, slung from the shoulder
Answer: C. Hung from the neck like a guitar
Q12. What technique allows the dholak to produce a characteristic sliding sound on the bass head?
A. Using sticks
B. Pressing with the heel of the palm and sliding (“giss” or “gissa”)
C. Hitting with mallets
D. Blowing air
Answer: B. Pressing with the heel of the palm and sliding (“giss” or “gissa”)
Q13. Which variant of the dholak is narrower and uses tabla-style syahi on the treble skin?
A. Dhol
B. Tabla
C. Mridangam
D. Dholki (also called naal)
Answer: D. Dholki (also called naal)
Q14. In which devotional music style is the dholak frequently used?
A. Gregorian chant
B. Kirtan and bhajan
C. Opera
D. Jazz
Answer: B. Kirtan and bhajan
Q15. Which wood is preferred for high-quality traditional dholak shells?
A. Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo)
B. Pine
C. Oak
D. Teak only
Answer: A. Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo)
Q16. The dholak is primarily associated with which category of music in South Asia?
A. Purely classical solo
B. Electronic music
C. Folk and devotional traditions
D. Marching bands
Answer: C. Folk and devotional traditions
Q17. On large dholaks (sometimes called dhols), which head may be played with a thin stick?
A. The bass head
B. The high-pitched (treble) head
C. Both heads
D. Neither
Answer: B. The high-pitched (treble) head
Q18. In the Caribbean, how is tuning often different on the dholak?
A. Only treble tunable
B. No tuning possible
C. Both treble and bass sides tunable with hook screws
D. Only rope used
Answer: C. Both treble and bass sides tunable with hook screws
Q19. Which famous music style from Punjab prominently features the dholak?
A. Bhangra
B. Kathak
C. Carnatic vocal
D. Thumri
Answer: A. Bhangra
Q20. What family of instruments does the dholak belong to?
A. Chordophones
B. Aerophones
C. Membranophones
D. Idiophones
Answer: C. Membranophones
Q21. Which material is sometimes added to the bass head masala for sound variation?
A. Sugar
B. Mustard oil residue, sand, or tar
C. Salt
D. Paint
Answer: B. Mustard oil residue, sand, or tar
Q22. In which country is the dholak widely used for Indian folk music, bhajan, and kirtan?
A. Fiji Islands
B. Brazil
C. Canada
D. Russia
Answer: A. Fiji Islands
Q23. Which instrument is closely related but larger and often stick-played in festivals?
A. Tabla
B. Dhol
C. Pakhawaj
D. Mridangam
Answer: B. Dhol
Q24. What is the typical playing posture for a seated dholak performer?
A. Drum vertical like a conga
B. Drum behind the back
C. Drum suspended overhead
D. Drum horizontal on lap or slightly tilted
Answer: D. Drum horizontal on lap or slightly tilted
Q25. Which Bollywood music style heavily relies on the dholak?
A. Filmi sangeet
B. Rap
C. Metal
D. Opera fusion
Answer: A. Filmi sangeet