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Musical Terms Trivia Quiz

A quiz about musical terms.

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

Author
TheMaskedCokie

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
133,420

Updated
Jun 19 23

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
18 / 25

Plays
2841

Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (11/25), Guest 97 (16/25), Guest 82 (21/25).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. Staccato means . . . ? Hint

Connected

Short

Detached

Long

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Question 2 of 25

2. The tempo is . . . ? Hint

Speed

Loud

Moderately loud

Soft

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Question 3 of 25

3. The fine is . . . ? Hint

The middle

The beginning

The end

Feeling good about the music

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Question 4 of 25

4. Piano is louder than forte.

True

False

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Question 5 of 25

5. D.C. stands for . . . ? Hint

De capital

Da capo

Don't care

Diminuendo crescendo

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Question 6 of 25

6. Adagio means slow.

True

False

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Question 7 of 25

7. Which of the following would make no sense written at the beginning of the music? Hint

Ad libitum (ad lib)

Tempo primo

Appassionato

Dolce

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Question 8 of 25

8. An enharmonic is . . . ? Hint

Two pitches written the same but sound differently

A very slow speed

Two pitches written differently but sound the same

A double grace note

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Question 9 of 25

9. In a time signature(eg 4/4), what does the top number stand for? Hint

Number of measures

Repeat first measure that many times

Note that gets the beat

Beats in a measure

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Question 10 of 25

10. Tenuto is the opposite of what other musical term? Hint

Arpeggio

Cadenza

Attacca

Staccato

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Question 11 of 25

11. A question always on the final is marches by Sousa. So which one didn't he write? Hint

"The Stars and Stripes Forever"

"Battle Hymn of the Republic"

"Washington Post March"

"The Thunderer"

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Question 12 of 25

12. The sign which looks like a percent sign (%) means what when written in a measure? Hint

Repeat preceding measure

Play following measure twice

Repeat preceding note

Play following note twice

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Question 13 of 25

13. What is the order of flats in a key signature? Hint

D G C B E A F

E A D G C B F

B E A D G C F

A D G C B E F

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Question 14 of 25

14. In a concert Eb key signature, how many flats are there? Hint

Not enough

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Question 15 of 25

15. What musical word means "play in a similar manner"? Hint

Subito

Simile

Syncopation

Staccato

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Question 16 of 25

16. What is a scale? Hint

When the accent falls on the weak beats

Something you would find on a fish

A series of notes that follow a definite pattern of half and whole steps

Random notes as instructed by a conductor

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Question 17 of 25

17. Ad Libitum (ad lib) is usually played in what sort of music? Hint

Warm ups

Marches

Jazz

Rock

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Question 18 of 25

18. If something is to be played "the same", how is it played? Hint

L'istesso

Meno

Loco

Piu

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Question 19 of 25

19. When tacet is written in music, what does it mean? Hint

All together

Without

Suddenly, without pause

Be silent, don't play

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Question 20 of 25

20. 8va means what? Hint

Play as written

Play an octave lower

Play an octave higher

Be silent, don't play

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Question 21 of 25

21. What is the correct order of sharps in a key signature? Hint

D A E B F C G

C G D A E B F

F C G D A E B

G D A E B F C

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Question 22 of 25

22. Embouchure is . . . ? Hint

Not a musical term

Mouth muscles' role in controlling tone

A brass instrument

A wooden instrument

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Question 23 of 25

23. There is a term known as a double sharp.

True

False

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Question 24 of 25

24. A tempo means what? Hint

Pick up the indicated new tempo

Gradually faster

Gradually slower

Resume the original tempo

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Question 25 of 25

25. A fife is related to a flute.

True

False

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 22 2024 : Guest 24: 11/25
Apr 20 2024 : Guest 97: 16/25
Apr 19 2024 : Guest 82: 21/25
Apr 19 2024 : Guest 90: 21/25
Apr 19 2024 : Guest 185: 12/25
Apr 16 2024 : Guest 73: 4/25
Apr 15 2024 : Guest 90: 11/25
Apr 11 2024 : Guest 216: 15/25
Apr 10 2024 : Guest 58: 21/25

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Staccato means . . . ?

Answer: Detached

Staccato does NOT mean short, though when played they usually sound short.

2. The tempo is . . . ?

Answer: Speed

Tempo, along with many other music words, is Italian.

3. The fine is . . . ?

Answer: The end

"Fine" means the end of the piece.

"DC al fine" means return to the beginning (da capo) of the piece and play either to the end or until the "fine" mark is seen.

"DS al fine" means return to a special mark (dal segno) in the piece and play either to the end or until the "fine" mark is seen.

4. Piano is louder than forte.

Answer: false

The rate of dynamics varies from pianissimo to fortissimo. The written order is pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff.

5. D.C. stands for . . . ?

Answer: Da capo

Diminuendo crescendo would mean "gradually softer gradually louder", which is an oxymoron and impossible for one player.

6. Adagio means slow.

Answer: True

Allegro means fast.

7. Which of the following would make no sense written at the beginning of the music?

Answer: Tempo primo

Tempo primo means "tempo same as the beginning", so it could not start a piece of music. Ad libitum means "at liberty", appassionato means "with passion", and dolce means "sweetly."

8. An enharmonic is . . . ?

Answer: Two pitches written differently but sound the same

G# and Ab are the same note, just written differently. This can help with key signatures.

9. In a time signature(eg 4/4), what does the top number stand for?

Answer: Beats in a measure

The bottom number is what note gets the beat. eg: in common time, a quarter note gets the beat, and there are four beats per measure.

10. Tenuto is the opposite of what other musical term?

Answer: Staccato

An arpeggio is notes of a chord played separately, attaca is "continue with little or no pause", and a cadenza is a solo passage played with freedom.

11. A question always on the final is marches by Sousa. So which one didn't he write?

Answer: "Battle Hymn of the Republic"

"Battle Hymn of the Rubublic" was written by Julia Ward Howe. All four of the pieces, however, are considered American patriotic tunes. (By the way, I am not American born, so terms are not speciffically US terms.)

12. The sign which looks like a percent sign (%) means what when written in a measure?

Answer: Repeat preceding measure

A repeat is hardly used to repeat just one measure, so 'colons' are used to indicate that one is to repeat the passage last played.

13. What is the order of flats in a key signature?

Answer: B E A D G C F

The order of flats is always the same, but not all are always written in a key signature. Sometimes the key is 6 sharps.

14. In a concert Eb key signature, how many flats are there?

Answer: 3

A key always has one more flat than the name. E is the second flat, followed by A, so there are three flats.

15. What musical word means "play in a similar manner"?

Answer: Simile

A simile is often written in rather than to write how the music should be played over and over and over.

16. What is a scale?

Answer: A series of notes that follow a definite pattern of half and whole steps

When the accent falls on the weak beats, that's called a syncopation. There are four types of scales: major scale, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor.

17. Ad Libitum (ad lib) is usually played in what sort of music?

Answer: Jazz

Jazz is about the only music you will ever see an ad lib in; however, lots (well, at least a few) people just ad lib when they feel like it, so long as the rest of the band is playing the ad libber won't be heard.

18. If something is to be played "the same", how is it played?

Answer: L'istesso

Loco means "as written", meno means "less", and piu means "more." So you might see "Meno mosso", which means to slow down or "Piu mosso", meaning to speed up.

19. When tacet is written in music, what does it mean?

Answer: Be silent, don't play

Tutti is all "together", senza is "without", and subito is "without pause".

20. 8va means what?

Answer: Play an octave higher

8va is usually written when to play an octave higher would mean not being in the staff, but above it (which would take up room). Since a lot of people are saying that 8va can also mean play down an octave, this is the truth: It's call 8ba.

21. What is the correct order of sharps in a key signature?

Answer: F C G D A E B

"Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Birds".

22. Embouchure is . . . ?

Answer: Mouth muscles' role in controlling tone

Mouth muscles used in controlling the tone of a wind instrument.

23. There is a term known as a double sharp.

Answer: True

A double sharp raises the pitch two half steps (one whole step).

24. A tempo means what?

Answer: Resume the original tempo

Respectively, gradually slower and gradually faster are known as rallentando and accelerando.

25. A fife is related to a flute.

Answer: True

Both are woodwind instruments.

Source: Author TheMaskedCokie

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