Musical instruments quiz
Checked on 4 November 2026
Question 1 of 10
Discover
How many strings does a violin commonly have?
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The answer is Four.
Most violins have a hollow wooden body and four strings, though some have five.
Discover
How many keys do most modern pianos have?
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The answer is 88.
Most modern pianos have 52 white keys and 36 black keys, 88 in all.
Discover
In the Hawaiian language, the word ukulele roughly translates as what?
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The answer is Jumping flea.
Ukulele roughly means jumping flea in Hawaiian, possibly a nod to the player's quick finger movements.
Discover
Which brass instrument nearly always uses a telescoping slide, rather than valves, to change pitch?
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The answer is Trombone.
Nearly all trombones change pitch with a telescoping slide that the player moves in and out.
Practise
Who is credited with inventing the piano?
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The answer is Bartolomeo Cristofori.
The piano is credited to Bartolomeo Cristofori of Padua, Italy, and one of his pianos existed by 1700.
Practise
Which double-reed woodwind instrument is widely recognised as the one that tunes the orchestra?
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The answer is Oboe.
Before a concert the oboe usually sounds an A440 that the rest of the orchestra tunes to.
Practise
The balalaika, a Russian instrument with a triangular body, has how many strings?
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The answer is Three.
The balalaika has a triangular wooden, hollow body, a fretted neck and three strings.
Expert
What is the lowest open string on a standard violin?
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The answer is G.
The violin is tuned in fifths to G3, D4, A4 and E5, so G is its lowest string.
Expert
How many pedals does a modern concert pedal harp have?
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The answer is Seven.
A pedal harp has seven pedals, one for each pitch class, and typically 47 strings.
Expert
Around 1700, the clarinet was created by adding a register key to which earlier single-reed instrument?
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The answer is Chalumeau.
Johann Christoph Denner is generally credited with inventing the clarinet by adding a register key to the chalumeau.