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How Are They Played? Trivia Quiz

How are musical sounds produced from various instruments? In this quiz I have avoided the ones that we all know such as the piano and the violin. You can tell me how those are played but how about the ones in this quiz?

A multiple-choice quiz by Jomarion. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Jomarion

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
326,950

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
679

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How do you get sounds from an Aeolian Harp?

Hint

plucking the strings with the fingers of the hand

drawing a bow across the strings

striking the strings with a small hammer

letting a current of air pass over it

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the way to get music from a Calliope?
Hint

using steam power to drive it

tapping it with a stick

blowing into a mouthpiece

shaking it

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Question 3 of 10

3. The Cembalo is not a common instrument nowadays. How is it played?

Hint

play it as you would play a piano

tap it lightly with the fingertips

cradle it and pluck its strings

drawing a bow across its strings

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Question 4 of 10

4. How do you play the medieval and renaissance instrument, the Hurdy-gurdy? Hint

plucking the strings with a small plectrum

cranking the wooden wheel on the end of it, and pressing its keys

holding it by the wooden handle and rattling it

stroking the strings gently with the fingers

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Question 5 of 10

5. The Jew's Harp is quite a small instrument. What makes it produce music? Hint

holding it between the teeth and twanging the metal strip

standing it upright and plucking the strings

blowing into its mouthpiece

laying it on a flat surface and tapping the strings

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Question 6 of 10

6. Maracas are usually found in pairs. What do you do with them to produce a sound? Hint

banging them against one another

knocking clappers together overhead - usually whilst dancing

holding their handles and shaking them

drumming on them with small sticks

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Question 7 of 10

7. How do you play the M'bira (or kalimba)?
Hint

using none of these methods

attach it to bellows and drive air through it

twanging the free ends of the tongues with your thumbs

hitting the metal or cane tongues with small mallets

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Question 8 of 10

8. How do you play the Sackbut - the ancestor of a well-known modern instrument?
Hint

playing it as you would a violin

shaking it

blowing into it and lengthening it by sliding the tube

placing it between the knees and drumming on it with the fingers

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Question 9 of 10

9. How was a sound produced from the Serpent, another medieval instrument? Hint

blowing into its cup-shaped mouthpiece

blowing into its reed-tipped tube

suspending it on a frame and striking it with a soft beater

rattling it violently

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Theremin is a modern instrument, which was named after its inventor. How do you play it? Hint

stroking the central section with your fingers

moving your hands in the air around the central part

blowing air across the central part

drawing a bow across the central part

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How do you get sounds from an Aeolian Harp?

Answer: letting a current of air pass over it

Aeolus was the Greek god of wind. This instrument is a box with strings which sound when a current of air passes over them.

2. What is the way to get music from a Calliope?

Answer: using steam power to drive it

'Calliope' literally means 'beautifully-voiced' after the muse of epic poetry. It is the U.S. name for a steam-driven organ.

3. The Cembalo is not a common instrument nowadays. How is it played?

Answer: play it as you would play a piano

This name is still used but is short for 'clavicembalo' - an Italian word for harpsichord.

4. How do you play the medieval and renaissance instrument, the Hurdy-gurdy?

Answer: cranking the wooden wheel on the end of it, and pressing its keys

The hurdy-gurdy resembles a viol but the sound is produced by friction of a hand-cranked wooden wheel on strings. Notes are changed by pressing keys.

5. The Jew's Harp is quite a small instrument. What makes it produce music?

Answer: holding it between the teeth and twanging the metal strip

According to my Chambers' Dictionary, this instrument is also known as a 'Jaw harp' or a 'Jews' trump'. It is 'a small lyre-shaped instrument'.

6. Maracas are usually found in pairs. What do you do with them to produce a sound?

Answer: holding their handles and shaking them

They consist of a pair of seed-filled gourds which are shaken whilst holding their handles. They are Latin-American instruments.

7. How do you play the M'bira (or kalimba)?

Answer: twanging the free ends of the tongues with your thumbs

This is the African 'thumb-piano' consisting of small metal or cane tongues which are held in position with a bar and are attached to a sound board or sound box.

8. How do you play the Sackbut - the ancestor of a well-known modern instrument?

Answer: blowing into it and lengthening it by sliding the tube

It is the fore-runner of the trombone.

9. How was a sound produced from the Serpent, another medieval instrument?

Answer: blowing into its cup-shaped mouthpiece

This name was given to the instrument in Renaissance times, because the serpent was made in a curved shape which looked like a snake.

10. The Theremin is a modern instrument, which was named after its inventor. How do you play it?

Answer: moving your hands in the air around the central part

This is an electronic instrument invented by Lev Theremin in 1920. No part of it is touched whilst playing it.

Source: Author Jomarion

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ertrum before going online.
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