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

Quiz about Instrument Families Shake Rattle and Roll

Instrument Families: Shake, Rattle, and Roll Quiz

Let's take a hit at the last (but not least) instrument family: the percussion. These guys are heads above the rest! (I hate to stop punning when I'm on a roll.)

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

Author
notwilbur

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
104,825

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
13 / 20

Plays
657

Last 3 plays: Guest 97 (10/20), Guest 71 (16/20), Guest 202 (17/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. True or false: A roll always consists of multiple bounces of the stick.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 2 of 20

2. True or false: A flam is a type of grace note rudiment.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 3 of 20

3. These pitched drums normally come in threes or fours and can be tuned "on the fly". Hint

timpani

tom toms

congas

bongos

NEXT>

Question 4 of 20

4. Which of these following techniques is not used on the timpani? Hint

single stroke roll

glissando

flam

double stroke roll

NEXT>

Question 5 of 20

5. Which of the following are commonly paired in the band or orchestra? Hint

gong and clave

bass drum and timpani

bass drum and snare

triangle and wood block

NEXT>

Question 6 of 20

6. True or false: Crash cymbals are played exactly parallel to one another.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 7 of 20

7. Which of the following is the most recent addition to the orchestra? Hint

gong

timpani

cymbals

snare drum

NEXT>

Question 8 of 20

8. Which of these instruments played the cadenza in "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" from The Nutcracker? Hint

orchestral bells

celeste

piano

toy piano

NEXT>

Question 9 of 20

9. Where is the orchestral percussion placed? Hint

In the front

In the bathroom

Off stage

In the back

NEXT>

Question 10 of 20

10. Which of these terms would not apply to a snare drum? Hint

vibrato

rim shot

roll

flam

NEXT>

Question 11 of 20

11. Which of these terms could apply to a vibraphone? Hint

portamento

tremolo

pizzicato

mute

NEXT>

Question 12 of 20

12. Which of these terms means to stop the vibration? Hint

mute

non vibrato

eliminate

dampen

NEXT>

Question 13 of 20

13. The top head of the snare drum is called the __________ head. Hint

tenor

snare

batter

tom

NEXT>

Question 14 of 20

14. True or false: Percussionists generally have to practice a variety of instruments.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 15 of 20

15. A drum roll is most often notated as Hint

two or three horizontal slashes through a note stem

sixteenth notes

grace notes

thirty second notes

NEXT>

Question 16 of 20

16. True or false: The piano could be classified as a percussion instrument.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 17 of 20

17. Which percussion instrument plays near the end of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew too Much" and is used to cover up the gunfire of an assassination attempt? Hint

triangle

snare drum

cymbals

bass drum

NEXT>

Question 18 of 20

18. Which of the following composers would most likely have only timpani in the percussion section? Hint

Mahler

Beethoven

Tchaikovsky

Bernstein

NEXT>

Question 19 of 20

19. Which of these is not part of a snare drum? Hint

snares

head

tuning peg

rim

NEXT>

Question 20 of 20

20. What is the most common way of playing a roll on a triangle? Hint

Grab another beater

Alternate striking the two sides at the bottom closed corner

You can't play a roll on this instrument

Have a very nervous hand

(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

Apr 19 2024 : Guest 97: 10/20
Apr 08 2024 : Guest 71: 16/20
Apr 07 2024 : Guest 202: 17/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. True or false: A roll always consists of multiple bounces of the stick.

Answer: False

On certain instruments like the timpani and bells, rolls are executed in single strokes.

2. True or false: A flam is a type of grace note rudiment.

Answer: True

The name sounds like the actual stroke: a soft grace note stroke followed quickly by a lounder, main stroke (fu-LAM). This elongates the sound.

3. These pitched drums normally come in threes or fours and can be tuned "on the fly".

Answer: timpani

A very cool instrument and, in my opinion, the heart of the orchestral percussion.

4. Which of these following techniques is not used on the timpani?

Answer: double stroke roll

Timpani can perform special effects like glissandi using the foot pedal, which changes the pitch of the drum.

5. Which of the following are commonly paired in the band or orchestra?

Answer: bass drum and snare

These two form the backbone of the orchestral rhythm section.

6. True or false: Crash cymbals are played exactly parallel to one another.

Answer: False

They are played almost parallel, one being slightly tilted in so as to avoid a vacuum effect.

7. Which of the following is the most recent addition to the orchestra?

Answer: gong

Another similiar instrument is a tam-tam, which is like a gong but have a definite pitch.

8. Which of these instruments played the cadenza in "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" from The Nutcracker?

Answer: celeste

The celeste sounds like delicate bells.

9. Where is the orchestral percussion placed?

Answer: In the back

If placed anywhere else, they would obstruct the view of the other musicians.

10. Which of these terms would not apply to a snare drum?

Answer: vibrato

Vibrato is a wavering of the pitch produced on many other instruments but not possible on the snare drum. (Although drummers can often surprise you....)

11. Which of these terms could apply to a vibraphone?

Answer: tremolo

As far as I know, the vibraphone is the only percussion instrument that has a tremolo, which similar to, but more tasteful than, a cheesy organ. This is produced by rotating discs inside the resonating tubes underneath each bar. The speed of the discs can be controlled by the player.

12. Which of these terms means to stop the vibration?

Answer: dampen

Some percussion instruments have sustains longer than desirable and require you to press them to your body (cymbals) or touch them with your fingers (triangle, timpani) in order to stop the sound.

13. The top head of the snare drum is called the __________ head.

Answer: batter

The bottom head is called the snare head because the metal snares (that cause the characteristic rat-a-tat-tat sound) rest underneath it.

14. True or false: Percussionists generally have to practice a variety of instruments.

Answer: True

Yup! Auditions for bands and orchestras would typically require one to play snare, timpani, and other instruments.

15. A drum roll is most often notated as

Answer: two or three horizontal slashes through a note stem

A timpani roll used to be notated as a trill.

16. True or false: The piano could be classified as a percussion instrument.

Answer: True

Yup! Although I think most percussionists don't spend a whole lot of time playing Beethoven piano concertos.

17. Which percussion instrument plays near the end of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew too Much" and is used to cover up the gunfire of an assassination attempt?

Answer: cymbals

This is a great movie! (BTW, the assassination attempt fails thanks to good old Jimmy!)

18. Which of the following composers would most likely have only timpani in the percussion section?

Answer: Beethoven

It wasn't until the 19th century that the orchestral percussion section began to expand, but even then, Beethoven remained mostly a timpani kind of guy.

19. Which of these is not part of a snare drum?

Answer: tuning peg

You can tune a snare drum, but the things you turn are called lugs or screws.

20. What is the most common way of playing a roll on a triangle?

Answer: Alternate striking the two sides at the bottom closed corner

It's challenging to play an even triangle roll.

Source: Author notwilbur

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