AG AIGAMELIB 59 playable now, 61 experiments Play a case
Menu

Seven days of questions and answers

Music Trivia Answers Archive

Review earlier daily rounds, reveal the correct answer, and use the short explanation to learn the fact behind each question. Page 6 of 12 covers seven completed UTC days.

Play today's quiz

Daily round

  1. How many strings does a cello normally have?

    Answer: four strings

    A cello normally has four strings.

  2. What vocal technique can supply percussion?

    Answer: beatboxing

    Beatboxing may provide vocal percussion.

  3. Which common clarinet is a transposing instrument?

    Answer: the B-flat clarinet

    The common B-flat model transposes.

  4. Which adjustable cello part supports the instrument on the floor?

    Answer: the endpin

    A cello’s adjustable endpin carries the instrument’s weight on the floor.

  5. Which side-blown woodwind makes sound as air crosses an embouchure hole?

    Answer: Flute

    Flute is the side-blown instrument whose modern orchestral form is usually metal.

Daily round

  1. Which pitched percussion instrument has tuned wooden bars?

    Answer: Xylophone

    Xylophone is the instrument with tuned wooden bars.

  2. What is unaccompanied vocal music called?

    Answer: A cappella

    A cappella is the vocal performance without instrumental accompaniment.

  3. What does syncopation create against a regular pulse?

    Answer: rhythmic tension

    It creates tension against the regular pulse.

  4. Which keyboard instrument sounds strings with felt-covered hammers?

    Answer: Piano

    Piano is the keyboard instrument whose strings are struck by felt-covered hammers.

  5. Which woodwind instrument uses a double reed and often gives the orchestra’s tuning note?

    Answer: Oboe

    Oboe is the slender woodwind with a penetrating tone.

Daily round

  1. What does a diminuendo require without fixing a final volume?

    Answer: a decrease from the current dynamic

    A diminuendo requires the sound to diminish from its current level; it need not end in silence.

  2. Which practice device produces evenly spaced beats?

    Answer: Metronome

    Metronome is the device that produces evenly spaced beats.

  3. Which hairpin shape can represent a crescendo?

    Answer: an opening hairpin

    An opening hairpin represents a crescendo.

  4. What is standard guitar tuning from lowest to highest?

    Answer: E, A, D, G, B, E

    Standard tuning begins E, A, D, G, B, E.

  5. What abbreviation commonly stands for crescendo?

    Answer: cresc.

    Its abbreviation is often cresc..

Daily round

  1. Where does the clarinet reed vibrate?

    Answer: against its mouthpiece

    A clarinet reed vibrates against its mouthpiece.

  2. What harmonic role does bass often provide?

    Answer: the harmonic foundation

    The bass voice often supports the harmonic foundation.

  3. Which two chord qualities are especially common?

    Answer: major and minor

    Major and minor are common qualities.

  4. What is the traditional literal sense of the Italian word adagio?

    Answer: at ease

    The Italian expression adagio traditionally conveys the sense of being at ease.

  5. How many equal-tempered semitones make an octave?

    Answer: twelve

    An octave contains twelve semitone steps in twelve-tone equal temperament.

Daily round

  1. How does allegro’s typical tempo compare with adagio?

    Answer: faster

    It is faster than adagio in ordinary usage.

  2. Which two saxophone sizes are especially common?

    Answer: alto and tenor

    Alto and tenor are common sizes.

  3. What happens to a metronome’s click spacing when its BPM setting increases?

    Answer: the clicks move closer together

    A higher beats-per-minute setting places the metronome’s clicks closer together in time.

  4. What mechanism commonly adjusts a timpano’s head tension?

    Answer: a pedal

    A pedal commonly adjusts timpani head tension.

  5. Which clef normally appears in trumpet parts?

    Answer: treble clef

    It usually reads music in treble clef.

Daily round

  1. Where does syncopation often place emphasis?

    Answer: weak beats or offbeats

    Syncopation often stresses weak beats or offbeats.

  2. What material is named by the Greek root xylon in xylophone?

    Answer: wood

    The name xylophone combines Greek roots referring to wood and sound.

  3. What other woodwind does its mouthpiece resemble?

    Answer: a clarinet-like mouthpiece

    A saxophone uses a clarinet-like mouthpiece.

  4. Which common clarinet is a transposing instrument?

    Answer: the B-flat clarinet

    The common B-flat model transposes.

  5. Which note does the treble clef’s reference line represent?

    Answer: G above middle C

    That line represents G above middle C.

Daily round

  1. Which main flute section contains the embouchure hole?

    Answer: the headjoint

    The embouchure hole is cut into the flute’s headjoint.

  2. How many strings does a violin normally have?

    Answer: four

    A violin normally has four strings.

  3. How many keys does a standard modern piano have?

    Answer: 88

    A standard modern piano has 88 keys.

  4. Which hardwood is commonly used for a professional oboe’s body?

    Answer: grenadilla

    Professional oboes are commonly made from dense grenadilla, also called African blackwood.

  5. Which marking is softer than piano?

    Answer: pianissimo

    Pianissimo is softer.