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Piano Basics and Theory Trivia Quiz

Music theory and piano trivia reasonably simple.

A multiple-choice quiz by sweet_cake. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
sweet_cake

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
250,809

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2165

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. We know that the piano has 88 keys, so how many white keys and black keys are there? Hint

50 White; 38 Black

52 White; 36 Black

48 White; 40 Black

54 White; 34 Black

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Usually about how long is a concert grand? Hint

4 feet

9 feet

6 feet

14 feet

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. A melodic interval is to be played broken, as opposed to simultaneously as in a harmonic interval.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. The key of A-flat Major has how many flats? Hint

three

four

five

six

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In the commontime (C) time signature, how many beats are in a measure? Hint

eight

two

four

six

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. An eighth note looks like a quarternote except for what difference? Hint

a longer stem on the eighth note

a diagonal line across the stem

a dot after the eighth note

a flag on the eighth note

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What is middle pedal of the three pedals of a traditional grand piano? Hint

Damper

Soft

Loud

Sostenuto

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Originally what was used to cover the white keys before plastic? Hint

Bark

Animal Hide

Nickel

Ivory

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which note in the staff gives the treble clef its nickname? Hint

the F note

the G note

the C note

the A note

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Lines to mark notes above the staff are called what? Hint

auxiliary

ledger

secondary

beam

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. We know that the piano has 88 keys, so how many white keys and black keys are there?

Answer: 52 White; 36 Black

The highest and the lowest key are both white keys. There are 13 white keys to every 9 black keys.

2. Usually about how long is a concert grand?

Answer: 9 feet

Concert grands are longer than the standard grands which are usually around 6 feet. The concert grands produce a much better tone as the soundboards and strings are longer.

3. A melodic interval is to be played broken, as opposed to simultaneously as in a harmonic interval.

Answer: True

A good way to remember the difference between melodic and harmonic intervals is that the separated notes of the melodic interval create a "melody" whereas the simultaneously played notes in the harmonic interval are played together in "harmony".

4. The key of A-flat Major has how many flats?

Answer: four

The four flats are B-flat, E-Flat, A-flat, and D-flat.

5. In the commontime (C) time signature, how many beats are in a measure?

Answer: four

Commontime is another form of 4-4 time. This means that each beat is worth one quarter note and each measure has four beats. Cut-time is another form of 2-2 time.

6. An eighth note looks like a quarternote except for what difference?

Answer: a flag on the eighth note

An eighth note is worth one half of a quarter note. A sixteenth note has two flags and a thirty-secondths note has three flags.

7. What is middle pedal of the three pedals of a traditional grand piano?

Answer: Sostenuto

The sostenuto pedal sustains the notes that were held at the time that the sostenuto pedal was depressed. The damper pedal is most used and is also called the Loud pedal. The soft pedal dampens the volume of the sound.

8. Originally what was used to cover the white keys before plastic?

Answer: Ivory

After ivory was banned, plastic was widely used to replace it. However, there are some really old pianos around that have still kept their original ivory keys.

9. Which note in the staff gives the treble clef its nickname?

Answer: the G note

The G-clef is the clef in the right-hand/higher staff. In addition, the treble symbol is a stylized G from Italian script. The Bass clef (F-clef) would be the clef in the left-hand/lower staff.

10. Lines to mark notes above the staff are called what?

Answer: ledger

I hope you enjoyed my quiz! Please rate it.

Source: Author sweet_cake

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