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Quiz about Instrument Families The Wires

Instrument Families: The Wires Quiz

This will test your knowledge of the orchestral strings. (Guitarists get extra points for any correct answers!)

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

Author
notwilbur

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
88,824

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
518

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is produced by lightly touching a string while playing? Hint

a harmonic

pain in a listener's ear

a subharmonic

a squeek

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Question 2 of 10

2. What two orchestral string instruments have the same string names but in opposite order? Hint

viola and cello

violin and viola

violin and bass

cello and bass

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Question 3 of 10

3. True or false: The viola and cello have the same string names but are an octave apart.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. How many positions are there on a violin? Hint

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Question 5 of 10

5. Since the latter part of the 19th century, which orchestral stringed instrument sometimes has required a fifth string? Hint

violin

bass

viola

cello

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Question 6 of 10

6. "Sul ponticello" means playing Hint

at the tip of the bow

near the bridge

at Thomas Jefferson's home

on the fingerboard

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these terms means begin and end off the string? Hint

staccato

martele

marcato

spiccato

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Question 8 of 10

8. How many strings do most concert harps have?

Answer: (subtract 41 from the number of keys a piano has)

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Question 9 of 10

9. A violinist is playing in third position. What note would he be playing with his first finger on the G string? (No accidentals needed.)

Answer: (One letter)

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Question 10 of 10

10. True or false: A cellist who carries his instrument on a plane has to pay for an extra seat.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is produced by lightly touching a string while playing?

Answer: a harmonic

Harmonics are the higher notes (overtones) from a principal or fundamental pitch. They have a lighter and sometimes eerie quality to them. Two kinds can be produced: natural and artificial.

2. What two orchestral string instruments have the same string names but in opposite order?

Answer: violin and bass

The violin is tuned in fifths from lowest to highest, G-D-A-E; the bass, in fourths, is E-A-D-G.

3. True or false: The viola and cello have the same string names but are an octave apart.

Answer: True

Both are tuned to the notes C-G-D-A, but are an octave apart.
(Although it is debatable whether or not the viola is a musical instrument, we will give it the benefit of the doubt.)

4. How many positions are there on a violin?

Answer: 12

If you take your first finger and move it up a G scale on the G string of a violin, you will discover the positions. (My violin teacher extends the tradition 12 positions to 14.)

5. Since the latter part of the 19th century, which orchestral stringed instrument sometimes has required a fifth string?

Answer: bass

A bassist once told me, if memory serves me correctly, that Berlioz was the first to require a low C string. A low C is also required as the rumbly opening note of R. Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra". This string can be retuned "on the fly" using levers similar to those on a harp.

6. "Sul ponticello" means playing

Answer: near the bridge

This produces a softer, more metallic sound.

7. Which of these terms means begin and end off the string?

Answer: spiccato

There are so many ways to use the bow! This technique can be a difficult stroke to execute consistently, especially at a rapid tempo. (You sort of brush the string with the bow.)

8. How many strings do most concert harps have?

Answer: 47

Beginning harps are smaller and have less strings, not only because of economic considerations, but also because smaller players can't reach as far! (Small note of trivia: harpists do not use their pinkies to play.)

9. A violinist is playing in third position. What note would he be playing with his first finger on the G string? (No accidentals needed.)

Answer: C

Shifting from one position to another, especially in a legato fashion, is difficult to do cleanly because you have to avoid producing notes in between.

10. True or false: A cellist who carries his instrument on a plane has to pay for an extra seat.

Answer: True

It's at times like this that I'm glad I'm a trombonist!
(Personally, I think the airlines ought to pay for musicians to fly on their planes.)

Source: Author notwilbur

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