15+ Music Trivia Questions: The Ultimate Test For True Fans?

15+ Music Trivia Questions: The Ultimate Challenge For Music Buffs

Welcome to our comprehensive music trivia questions collection. Test your knowledge with our carefully crafted questions!

1 Easy

Which British band is known for the hit song ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’?

The Rolling Stones

Pink Floyd

Queen

The Beatles

View explanation and related facts

Explanation: Queen released ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in 1975, and it became one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song is known for its unique structure and operatic sections.

Related Fact: The recording of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ took three weeks, and the operatic section alone took 70 hours to complete.

2 Medium

What is the birth name of rapper Jay-Z?

Shawn Carter

Marshall Mathers

Curtis Jackson

Calvin Broadus

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Explanation: Jay-Z’s legal name is Shawn Corey Carter. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and rose to fame in the late 1990s.

Related Fact: Jay-Z is the first hip-hop billionaire and has won 24 Grammy Awards, the most for any rapper.

3 Easy

Which musical instrument does Yo-Yo Ma play?

Cello

Piano

Guitar

Violin

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Explanation: Yo-Yo Ma is a world-renowned cellist, known for his virtuosity and expressive playing. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras all over the world.

Related Fact: Yo-Yo Ma owns two cellos: the ‘Davidov Stradivarius,’ built in 1712, and a Montagnana cello, built in Venice in 1733.

4 Easy

What is the name of Taylor Swift’s 2014 album?

Fearless

Red

1989

Speak Now

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Explanation: Taylor Swift’s album, ‘1989’, marked her transition into pop music. It was named after her birth year and features hits like ‘Shake It Off’ and ‘Blank Space’.

Related Fact: ‘1989’ won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2016, making Swift the first woman to win the award twice for her own work.

5 Medium

Which rock band released the album ‘Nevermind’ in 1991?

Nirvana

Soundgarden

Pearl Jam

Alice in Chains

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Explanation: Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ became a defining album of the grunge era. It featured the hit single ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.

Related Fact: The baby on the cover of ‘Nevermind’ received only $200 for the iconic photo shoot. He has since recreated the image.

6 Medium

Which opera composer wrote ‘The Marriage of Figaro’?

Giuseppe Verdi

Giacomo Puccini

Richard Wagner

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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Explanation: Mozart’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ is a comic opera. It’s known for its complex characters and beautiful melodies.

Related Fact: The opera ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ was initially banned in Vienna by Emperor Joseph II due to its political undertones.

7 Easy

What genre of music is Miles Davis primarily known for?

Country

Classical

Blues

Jazz

View explanation and related facts

Explanation: Miles Davis was an influential figure in jazz music. He helped pioneer several subgenres, including cool jazz, modal jazz, and jazz fusion.

Related Fact: Miles Davis was known for turning his back to the audience during performances, a gesture that was often interpreted as arrogance or disrespect, but that Davis said helped him concentrate on the music.

8 Easy

How many members are in the K-pop group BTS?

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Explanation: BTS (also known as the Bangtan Boys) is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010 and debuted in 2013. The group has 7 members: Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.

Related Fact: BTS is the first K-pop group to reach number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with their album ‘Love Yourself: Tear’.

9 Medium

Which artist sang the original version of ‘Hallelujah’?

Bob Dylan

Leonard Cohen

Rufus Wainwright

Jeff Buckley

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Explanation: Leonard Cohen wrote and originally performed ‘Hallelujah’ in 1984. Though it wasn’t initially a hit, other artist’s covers made it popular.

Related Fact: Over 300 versions of ‘Hallelujah’ have been recorded by various artists in multiple languages.

10 Medium

What year was the first Woodstock festival held?

1970

1969

1972

1967

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Explanation: The Woodstock Music & Art Fair was held in August 1969. It became a symbol of the counterculture movement of the era.

Related Fact: Although it was originally advertised as a festival for 50,000 people, approximately 400,000 attended Woodstock.

11 Easy

Which country is tango music and dance most closely associated with?

Italy

Spain

Cuba

Argentina

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Explanation: The tango originated in the late 19th century in the slums of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It’s characterized by its passionate and melancholic mood.

Related Fact: The tango was initially considered scandalous due to its close embraces and suggestive movements.

12 Medium

What is the highest selling album of all time?

Thriller

The Bodyguard

Back in Black

The Dark Side of the Moon

View explanation and related facts

Explanation: Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, released in 1982, is estimated to have sold over 70 million copies worldwide. Its groundbreaking music videos also revolutionized the industry.

Related Fact: Seven singles were released from ‘Thriller’, all of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

13 Easy

What instrument is often featured in bluegrass music, besides banjo, guitar, and mandolin?

Trumpet

Fiddle

Harmonica

Accordion

View explanation and related facts

Explanation: The fiddle (violin) is a prominent instrument in bluegrass music. It contributes significantly to the distinctive sound of the genre.

Related Fact: The term ‘fiddle’ is often used interchangeably with ‘violin’ in bluegrass and other folk music contexts. One of the interesting pieces of music trivia questions to explore!

14 Easy

Which female singer is known as the ‘Queen of Pop’?

Lady Gaga

Britney Spears

Madonna

Beyoncé

View explanation and related facts

Explanation: Madonna is widely regarded as the ‘Queen of Pop’. She is known for her constant reinvention, her influence on popular culture and her contributions to music trivia questions.

Related Fact: Madonna’s full name is Madonna Louise Ciccone. She has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making her the best-selling female artist of all time.

15 Medium

In music notation, what does ‘allegro’ mean?

Very Slow

Moderate

Fast

Slow

View explanation and related facts

Explanation: ‘Allegro’ is an Italian term used in music to indicate a fast tempo. It’s one of the most common tempo markings.

Related Fact: The precise speed of allegro is subjective and can vary depending on the performer and the context of the piece.

Interesting Insights About Music Questions

Here are three unique insights about music trivia questions:

1. The Economics of Obscurity While music trivia questions often focus on chart-topping hits and globally recognized artists, a significant sub-economy thrives on the memorization and recall of obscure musical facts. Believe it or not, the rarer and more esoteric the knowledge, the more valuable it becomes within niche communities. For example, individuals specializing in 1970s Japanese city pop or obscure European progressive rock can leverage their expertise through online forums, specialized trivia events (often with surprisingly lucrative prizes), or even content creation. This creates an interesting paradox: knowledge about less popular music ironically gains a higher economic value within specific circles, incentivizing deep dives into musical history beyond the mainstream. Therefore, music trivia questions act as a currency in these specialized communities.

2. The Cognitive Boost Beyond Recall It’s easy to dismiss music trivia questions as mere exercises in rote memorization, but research suggests a deeper cognitive benefit. A 2017 study published in “Memory & Cognition” found that actively recalling information, even seemingly trivial facts like the B-side of a forgotten single, strengthens neural pathways associated with long-term memory and information retrieval. Furthermore, engaging with music trivia often requires connecting seemingly disparate pieces of information – linking artist names to genres, album covers to release dates, or musical styles to historical periods. This process strengthens associative thinking and pattern recognition skills, which are crucial for problem-solving and creativity across various domains. Therefore, answering music trivia questions can be seen as a surprisingly effective (and entertaining) form of cognitive training.

3. Evolution of Social Bonding Rituals The way we utilize music trivia questions has significantly evolved. Historically, music trivia games were often centered around demonstrating cultural capital and gatekeeping access to musical knowledge. Think of the snobbish record store clerks of the 1990s who would quiz customers to test their “authenticity”. However, with the democratization of music through streaming services and online databases, the function of music trivia questions is shifting. They are increasingly becoming a tool for social bonding and shared experience. For example, playlists curated around niche themes and trivia prompts shared on social media facilitate collaborative discovery and conversation. The goal is no longer just about proving expertise, but about sparking engaging discussions, building communities around shared musical interests, and collectively enriching one’s understanding and appreciation of music. So, in essence, music trivia questions transform from instruments of hierarchy into facilitators of shared joy.

About Music Questions

Music, the universal language that transcends cultures and generations, holds countless fascinating stories and hidden gems within its melodies and rhythms. Delving into the world of music trivia questions is like embarking on a sonic scavenger hunt, uncovering the quirky details and surprising origins behind our favorite songs and artists. From chart-topping hits to underground sensations, every genre boasts a rich tapestry of anecdotes waiting to be discovered, making the pursuit of musical knowledge a rewarding and endlessly entertaining endeavor.

Prepare to have your mind blown with some truly unexpected revelations! Did you know, for instance, that the iconic guitar riff in “Smoke on the Water” was inspired by a fire at a Frank Zappa concert? Or that the best-selling Christmas song of all time isn’t “White Christmas,” but actually “Silent Night”? Our collection of music trivia questions is meticulously curated to challenge even the most seasoned music aficionados. We go beyond the obvious and explore the depths of musical history, ensuring that you’ll not only learn something new but also have a blast while doing it.

So, how did you do? Hopefully, you’ve learned a thing or two about music history, artists, genres, and some random musical factoids along the way. If you enjoyed tackling these music trivia questions, you might also be interested in exploring the history of specific genres like blues or hip-hop, delving into the biographies of influential musicians, or even brushing up on your music theory. Don’t keep all this knowledge to yourself! Share your score with your friends and family, or challenge them to see who can conquer these music trivia questions. Let the music games begin!

Explore more about music trivia questions in our other related articles.

Learn More About Music Questions

Explore these authoritative resources to deepen your knowledge about music questions:

Oxford Music Online (Grove Music Online) (www.oxfordmusiconline.com)
Oxford Music Online, including Grove Music Online, is a comprehensive and authoritative resource for music research, providing access to scholarly articles written by experts in the field. It is published by Oxford University Press, a highly respected academic publisher.
Santa Monica College Music Department (smc.edu)
University and college music department websites often provide high quality educational resources on music history, theory, and performance. This specific URL links to the Santa Monica College Music department’s main webpage which provides many resources and links.
Music – Britannica (www.britannica.com)
Britannica is a well-established and respected encyclopedia known for its accuracy and comprehensiveness, and its coverage of music history, theory, and genres is generally reliable and well-researched.
American Musicological Society (www.ams-net.org)
The American Musicological Society (AMS) is a learned society dedicated to advancing research in all areas of music. Their website includes resources and publications that reflect the highest standards of music scholarship.
Music Theory Online (www.mtosmt.org)
Music Theory Online (MTO) is a peer-reviewed journal of music theory, known for publishing scholarly articles on a wide range of theoretical topics. Its peer-review process ensures a high level of academic rigor.
AllMusic (www.allmusic.com)
AllMusic is a comprehensive music database featuring extensive artist biographies, album reviews, and genre information. While commercially oriented, it draws on a network of knowledgeable contributors and provides a relatively reliable source for basic factual information about musicians and their work, though it benefits from cross-referencing with more academically-oriented sources.