Instrumental Oddities Trivia Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull is famous for playing what musical instrument, which is unusual for a rock band?

Answer: flute

When his guitar playing wasn't as great as he hoped, Ian decided to take up the flute instead and that instrument became "his" (and in many ways a "signature" of the band). Ian was known to do elaborate work with his flute on stage, including tossing it up in the air and then catching it.

2. What solo effort sung by Ringo Starr included Paul McCartney playing the kazoo?

Answer: You're Sixteen

Written by the Sherman Brothers, famous for "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "It's A Small World.", "You're Sixteen" was the second solo project by Ringo Starr to reach #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (with his song "Photograph" being his first). Harry Nilsson sang backup while McCartney accompanied them on the kazoo.

3. For the Rolling Stones song "Street Fighting Man" three instruments usually not heard in Rock 'n Roll songs were used. One of the instruments was a sitar - what where the other two?

Answer: tamboura and shehani

Brian Jones played both the sitar and tamboura (a long necked lute, which is similiar to the sitar). Dave Mason plays the Shehani on the song, which is a Indian double reed conical oboe. Dave Mason played with many other famous acts but is best known as a co-founder of the band Traffic.

4. Rolf Harris, a multi-talented entertainer born in Australia, plays the didgeridoo on many of his songs. But what other unusual instrument is he famous for?

Answer: wobble board

The folks with buff bodies who hang out at health clubs are probably thinking: wobble board? Isn't that the thing you balance on while exercising? Well yes, I guess it could be, but in this case it is a sheet of wood (Rolf Harris usually preferred masonite) that has enough flex in it that it can be bent and popped to make a sort of "whoop" sound. Different angles and duration of the popping movement create different tonal qualities. Back in Shakespeare's day, similar boards may have been used to create "thunder" sounds to simulate stormy weather.

5. Which theatrical group would you find playing the following "instruments": brooms, water bottles, dustbins/trash cans and lids, plastic barrels and oil drums?

Answer: Stomp

Stomp was formed in 1991 in Brighton, England by members of a theatre group and a street band. They are a percussion band mixed with physical theatre. International offshoots have sprung up and various Stomp groups play all over the world. There's even a special theatre that was built just for their performances in Las Vegas.

6. What instrument, which can be played without touching it, was used by the Pixies for their song "Velouria"?

Answer: theremin

"Velouria" is the name of a girl the singer is infatuated with.
The theremin, also known as an etherphone, is named after its inventor Professor Leon Theremin. Two antennas follow the hand movements of the player, with the volume and frequency being controlled by different hands.

7. While versions of this instrument are common in band types such as polka and celtic, it is rarely heard in other music genres. However, the alternative rock group They Might Be Giants uses what quite regularly?

Answer: accordion

Ah yes, the accordion. The oft-hidden shame of many a child sent to music lessons whose parents couldn't afford a piano. That turned out to be a good thing for "Weird" Al Yankovic though, who certainly doesn't seem to be embarrassed by much of anything!

Formed in 1982, They Might Be Giants produced a lot of experimental type music in their earlier days, but in the early 2000s became more well known for children's music.

8. Though not considered an unusual musical instrument in the UK, its use in the AC/DC song "It's a Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock "N" Roll)" made it unique to the rock genre. What instrument was featured in this five minutes- 15 seconds rock anthem?

Answer: bagpipes

This song is unusual because instead of a lengthy guitar solo it features interplay between Angus Young on lead and Bon Scott on the bagpipes. Scott learned recorder and drums, and was a proficient bagpipe player.

9. Which world-famous heavy *metal* band used a sitar on one of the tracks of their fifth album in 1991?

Answer: Metallica

Although you tend to associate Ravi Shankar or other Asian musicians with a sitar, Metallica are not afraid to experiment. The sitar was used on "Wherever I May Roam" from the eponymous Metallica album and was the fourth track released as a single.

In 1999 Metallica went on to perform with the San Francisco Symphony orchestra - 21 tracks with full accompaniment. Well worth checking out on DVD!

10. In 1973, British musician Mike Oldfield released a progressive rock album which featured a metal instrument on the cover. Bent into a triangular shape, with a seascape as the background, what instrument is this?

Answer: tubular bell

Tubular bells are (normally straight) metal tubes. Different notes/tones are produced through different lengths of tubing.

Mike Oldfield's album was called "Tubular Bells" and was popular enough that sequels were created. The first album is somewhat famous for being used in the soundtrack of the movie "The Exorcist" in 1973.

In 2010, the Royal Mail issued ten special stamps featuring album covers. "Tubular Bells" was one of the selections.

Source: Author Jakeroo

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ertrum before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Musical instruments from around the world are not really "strange" in and of themselves, but sometimes certain ones are used in ways one wouldn't expect. Do come in for a listen and see which ones you recognise as being the "odd one out".

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