General Awareness ยท History

Musical Instruments

2,912 Questions

Musical instruments are categorized into strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. This hub offers practice questions on instruments like the Santoor, gayageum, and bandoneon across various cultures. This topic is a regular feature in general awareness sections of competitive exams.

String instrumentsBrass instrumentsWoodwind techniquesTraditional folk instrumentsGlobal music traditions

Musical Instruments Questions

Multiple choice

What is the name of the musical instrument made from recycled metal scraps that is played by hitting the strings with sticks or mallets?

  1. The Bottlephone

  2. The Canjo

  3. The Scrap Metal Guitar

  4. The Cardboard Piano
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Scrap Metal Guitar is a musical instrument made from recycled metal scraps that is played by hitting the strings with sticks or mallets.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the musical instrument made from recycled cardboard that is played by pressing the keys with fingers?

  1. The Bottlephone

  2. The Canjo

  3. The Scrap Metal Guitar

  4. The Cardboard Piano
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Cardboard Piano is a musical instrument made from recycled cardboard that is played by pressing the keys with fingers.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a type of musical instrument that can be made from recycled materials?

  1. Drums

  2. Guitars

  3. Flutes

  4. Pianos
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Flutes are not a type of musical instrument that can be made from recycled materials.

Multiple choice

Which instrument was particularly prominent in the music of the Renaissance period?

  1. Violin

  2. Piano

  3. Lute

  4. Guitar
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The lute, a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body, was widely used in Renaissance music for both solo and ensemble performances.

Multiple choice

Which musical instrument is known for its distinctive sound produced by striking a set of tuned metal bars with mallets?

  1. Piano

  2. Violin

  3. Xylophone

  4. Guitar
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The xylophone is a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned wooden or metal bars that are struck with mallets to produce a bright, ringing sound.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the oldest known musical instrument?

  1. Flute

  2. Drum

  3. Harp

  4. Guitar
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The oldest known musical instrument is the flute, which has been found in archaeological sites dating back to 40,000 years ago.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the ancient Egyptian stringed instrument that is similar to a harp?

  1. Sistrum

  2. Lyre

  3. Oud

  4. Darbuka
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The lyre is an ancient Egyptian stringed instrument that is similar to a harp. It was played by plucking the strings with the fingers or a plectrum.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a traditional Chinese stringed instrument?

  1. Guzheng

  2. Erhu

  3. Pipa

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The guzheng, erhu, and pipa are all traditional Chinese stringed instruments. The guzheng is a zither with 21 strings, the erhu is a two-stringed fiddle, and the pipa is a four-stringed lute.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Japanese stringed instrument that is similar to a guitar?

  1. Shamisen

  2. Koto

  3. Tsugaru-jamisen

  4. Biwa
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The shamisen is a Japanese stringed instrument that is similar to a guitar. It has three strings and is played with a plectrum.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a traditional African percussion instrument?

  1. Djembe

  2. Ashiko

  3. Dunun

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The djembe, ashiko, and dunun are all traditional African percussion instruments. The djembe is a goblet-shaped drum that is played with the hands, the ashiko is a cylindrical drum that is played with a stick, and the dunun is a set of three drums that are played with the hands.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the European stringed instrument that is similar to a violin?

  1. Viola

  2. Cello

  3. Double bass

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The viola, cello, and double bass are all European stringed instruments that are similar to a violin. The viola is larger than the violin and has a lower pitch, the cello is larger than the viola and has a lower pitch, and the double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched of the four instruments.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the South American percussion instrument that is made from a hollow gourd?

  1. Maracas

  2. Guiro

  3. Conga

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Maracas are a South American percussion instrument that is made from a hollow gourd. They are filled with seeds or beans and are shaken to produce a rattling sound.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a traditional Australian Aboriginal wind instrument?

  1. Didgeridoo

  2. Bullroarer

  3. Clapsticks

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The didgeridoo is a traditional Australian Aboriginal wind instrument. It is a long, wooden tube that is played by blowing air into it.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the electronic keyboard instrument that was invented in the 1960s?

  1. Synthesizer

  2. Organ

  3. Piano

  4. Harpsichord
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The synthesizer is an electronic keyboard instrument that was invented in the 1960s. It can produce a wide variety of sounds, from traditional instrument sounds to electronic sounds.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a traditional Hawaiian stringed instrument?

  1. Ukulele

  2. Guitar

  3. Violin

  4. Cello
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The ukulele is a traditional Hawaiian stringed instrument. It has four strings and is played with the fingers or a pick.