FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Guitar Quiz No. 1

In this quiz you will be interrogated on the anatomy, playing and repertoire of that most versatile of instruments, the 'classical' guitar.

A multiple-choice quiz by Matve. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Matve

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
76,405

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
3 / 10

Plays
2392

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How is the guitar usually tuned (from lowest to highest)? Hint

EBFCGA

EADGCF

EADGBE

DADGBE

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Classical guitars often have a spruce top. From what other wood is the top most often made? Hint

Cedar

Pine

Rosewood

Mahogany

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Which nineteenth- and twentieth-century composer, a pioneer in guitar technique, wrote the popular tremolo study 'Recuerdos de la Alhambra'?

Answer: (Two Words (no accents!))

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What is the name of the effect produced when the thumb strikes the area near the bridge in order to produce an 'echoing' effect? Hint

Rasgueado

Vibrato

Tambora

Tasto

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. The Spanish composer Antonio Jos�, who wrote an acclaimed sonata for the guitar in 1933, died in what manner? Hint

Hanged by the Republicans

Ate a poisoned cake

Bitten by a snake

Shot by the Nationalists

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Rodrigo's 'Concierto para un gentilhombre' was based on the music of which Spanish baroque composer?

Answer: (Either surname or both names)

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. All of the following composers have written works for the guitar. Only one of them is or was actually proficient on the instrument. Which one? Hint

Heitor Villa-Lobos

Federico Moreno Torroba

Stephen Dodgson

Lennox Berkeley

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following parts does a 'classical' guitar NOT possess? Hint

Bridge

Tailpiece

Nut

Machine heads

9. Leo Brouwer's flagship piece of his new 'hyper-romantic nationalist' style consisted of three movements, subtitled 'El Harpa del Guerrero', 'La Huida de los Amantes por el Valle de los Ecos', and 'Ballada de la Doncella Enamorada'. What was it called (Spanish title please)?

Answer: (Three Words (no accents!))

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Finally, which of these British composers has not written a work specifically for the solo guitar? Hint

William Walton

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Benjamin Britten

Richard Rodney Bennett

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Oct 30 2024 : Guest 141: 4/10
Oct 26 2024 : oslo1999: 3/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How is the guitar usually tuned (from lowest to highest)?

Answer: EADGBE

The 'DADGBE' tuning is also often used - it often makes lute music easier to play.

2. Classical guitars often have a spruce top. From what other wood is the top most often made?

Answer: Cedar

Rosewood is often used for the back and sides and sometimes for the fingerboard. Pine is never (I think) used. Mahogany is an alternative wood for the back, sides and neck.

3. Which nineteenth- and twentieth-century composer, a pioneer in guitar technique, wrote the popular tremolo study 'Recuerdos de la Alhambra'?

Answer: Francisco Tarrega

This is probably the most popular classical guitar work ever written. Tarrega was a master of the romantic guitar miniature, and has been referred to as the 'Chopin of the guitar'.

4. What is the name of the effect produced when the thumb strikes the area near the bridge in order to produce an 'echoing' effect?

Answer: Tambora

Vibrato is the effect produced when the left-hand fingers rock on a string. Tasto (often written 'sul tasto') is an instruction to play above the fingerboard. Rasgueado is a kind of strumming technique characteristic of flamenco music, but often used in classical guitar music as well.

5. The Spanish composer Antonio Jos�, who wrote an acclaimed sonata for the guitar in 1933, died in what manner?

Answer: Shot by the Nationalists

Jos�'s Sonata has had a renaissance in recent years, and is often considered to be the most substantial pre-war 20th century work by a Spanish composer. Jos� was a friend of the writer Federico Garc�a Lorca, who shared his fate of being killed by Franco's Falangists at the start of the Spanish Civil War.

6. Rodrigo's 'Concierto para un gentilhombre' was based on the music of which Spanish baroque composer?

Answer: Gaspar Sanz

Sanz's famous guitar piece 'Canarios' begins the final movement. This concerto was written for Andres Segovia.

7. All of the following composers have written works for the guitar. Only one of them is or was actually proficient on the instrument. Which one?

Answer: Heitor Villa-Lobos

Villa-Lobos's guitar music occupies an important place in the 20th century repertory, although it only consists of three collections of pieces and one standalone piece. The influences of Brazilian 'ch�ros' music and the 'impressionism' of Debussy and Ravel are particularly apparent.

8. Which of the following parts does a 'classical' guitar NOT possess?

Answer: Tailpiece

Bowed instruments have tailpieces. Some types of non-'classical' guitar also have them.

Answer: El Decameron Negro

It's rather difficult to play convincingly...

10. Finally, which of these British composers has not written a work specifically for the solo guitar?

Answer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

William Walton (1903-1982) wrote the 'Five Bagatelles', Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) wrote the 'Nocturnal after John Dowland', and Richard Rodney Bennett (b. 1936) has contributed five 'Impromptus' and a 'Sonata'. All of these pieces were dedicated to Julian Bream, the premier advocate of British guitar music in the 20th century.

Source: Author Matve

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