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

The Piano Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about how well you know this famous and amazing instrument.

A multiple-choice quiz by SirMusic98. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
SirMusic98

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
356,975

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
476

Last 3 plays: Guest 74 (0/10), Guest 131 (1/10), Guest 68 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the first and most common note that music books begin a new piano-learner on, when they are just starting to learn the instrument? Hint

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Which of the following composers never wrote a piano concerto? Hint

Franz Liszt

Edvard Grieg

Camille Saint-Sa�ns

Claude Debussy

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What device is used to hit the strings when you press down a key? Hint

Plectrum

Reed

Bow

Hammer

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. How many black keys are there on a standard grand piano? Hint

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. The word piano comes from a shortened version of the word 'pianoforte', so what is the literal Italian translation of 'pianoforte'? Hint

Brave

Loud-quiet

Quiet-loud

Piano

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the following has piano as their main instrument? Hint

Caoimh�n � Raghallaigh

Sam "The Man" Taylor

L�ng L�ng

Ulf H�kan Hardenberger

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The piano is commonly placed in which section of the orchestra?
Hint

Brass

String

Percussion

Woodwind

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What is the lowest note on most pianos? Hint

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these is a famous piano manufacturer? Hint

Xavier & Sons

Dolgoch & Sons

Steinway & Sons

Wakana & Sons

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following is NOT used in the construction of pianos? Hint

Hard Maple

Mahogany

Bamboo

Sugar Pine

(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 22 2024 : Guest 74: 0/10
Apr 05 2024 : Guest 131: 1/10
Apr 03 2024 : Guest 68: 2/10
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 109: 8/10
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 74: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the first and most common note that music books begin a new piano-learner on, when they are just starting to learn the instrument?

Answer: C

"Middle C" is the note that most piano players are first taught. When they are beginning to learn the instrument, it helps the player to master the notes of the different scales before moving onto more complicated pieces higher up and lower down the piano.

2. Which of the following composers never wrote a piano concerto?

Answer: Claude Debussy

Debussy wrote many piano solos, but never a complete piano concerto. The other three, however, wrote many.

3. What device is used to hit the strings when you press down a key?

Answer: Hammer

Special hammers are used to hit the string using a simple mechanism so that when a key is depressed, the hammer strikes the corresponding string. The hammer then returns to its original position for the next time its note is needed. A plectrum is used to strum guitars, a bow is used on string instruments (e.g. the violin) and reeds are used on woodwind instruments (e.g. clarinets).

4. How many black keys are there on a standard grand piano?

Answer: 36

There are 36 black keys and 52 white keys altogether making a total of 88. The black notes are: A#, C#, D#, F# and G# (or Bb, Db, Eb, Gb and Ab respectively); and the white notes are: A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

5. The word piano comes from a shortened version of the word 'pianoforte', so what is the literal Italian translation of 'pianoforte'?

Answer: Quiet-loud

'Piano' is the Italian word for 'soft' or 'quiet' and 'forte' is Italian for 'strong' or 'loud'. The instrument was called this because it could create a range of dynamics when being played.

6. Which of the following has piano as their main instrument?

Answer: L�ng L�ng

L�ng L�ng is a Chinese concert pianist; Sam "The Man" Taylor was an American tenor saxophonist; Ulf H�kan Hardenberger is a Swedish trumpeter and Caoimh�n � Raghallaigh is an Irish fiddler.

7. The piano is commonly placed in which section of the orchestra?

Answer: Percussion

The piano would be in the percussion section as it has hammers inside of it that need to hit the string before the sound can be heard thus classing it as percussion. Piano soloists would, of course, be seated at the front of the orchestra instead of with the percussion section.

8. What is the lowest note on most pianos?

Answer: A

On most pianos, the lowest note is an 'A'. This note was chosen to be the lowest note because the sound becomes too weak for the average human ear to tell the difference between notes lower than it.

9. Which of these is a famous piano manufacturer?

Answer: Steinway & Sons

Steinway is the only true piano 'brand' in the list. Dolgoch is simply a Welsh name, Wakana a Japanese name and Xavier a French name.

10. Which of the following is NOT used in the construction of pianos?

Answer: Bamboo

Mahogany is used for legs, key-bed mouldings, pedal lyres and cross-banding veneer. Sugar pine is used for soundboard ribs. Hard maple is used for action parts, wrest planks, bridges and rims.

Source: Author SirMusic98

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