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Quizzes > Music

Rock Trivia Questions: Test Your Music Knowledge

Quick, free rock music quiz with 15 questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Ruben FreireUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art displaying text for Rock Music Trivia Quiz

This rock music trivia quiz helps you test your knowledge of classic bands, landmark songs, and rock history in 15 quick multiple-choice questions. Get instant feedback as you play, pick up fun facts along the way, and, when you want more, explore our classic rock trivia, dive into rock and roll trivia, or challenge your memory with a focused rock band quiz.

Which band released the album "Dark Side of the Moon" in 1973?
Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
Queen
The Rolling Stones
Pink Floyd released "Dark Side of the Moon" in 1973, which became one of the most iconic and best-selling rock albums. Its innovative production and cohesive theme solidified the band's status in classic rock history.
What term describes a repeated melodic phrase often played on guitar in rock songs?
Chorus
Riff
Solo
Bridge
In rock music, a "riff" is a repeated melodic figure, often serving as the song's signature hook. Riffs are fundamental to many rock genres and contribute heavily to a song's identity.
The "British Invasion" of rock music during the 1960s primarily involved bands from which country?
Canada
Australia
United States
England
The term "British Invasion" refers to the wave of English bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones that became hugely popular in the United States during the mid-1960s. This movement significantly shaped the rock music landscape.
Who is widely known as the "King of Rock and Roll"?
Chuck Berry
Little Richard
Elvis Presley
Buddy Holly
Elvis Presley earned the title "King of Rock and Roll" due to his immense influence, distinctive style, and record-breaking popularity in the 1950s. He played a crucial role in popularizing rock music worldwide.
In a standard rock rhythm section, which instrument typically keeps the primary beat?
Drums
Bass guitar
Keyboard
Electric guitar
The drums form the backbone of a rock band's rhythm section, providing the primary beat and tempo. Drummers use patterns like the basic rock beat to maintain consistency throughout a song.
Which band performs the lyric "We don't need no education" in their song criticizing school systems?
Pink Floyd
Genesis
Yes
The Who
Pink Floyd included the lyric "We don't need no education" in their song "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2," which critiques rigid schooling. The track became an anthem against oppressive educational practices.
The iconic opening guitar riff of "Smoke on the Water" appears on which album?
Machine Head
Fireball
In Rock
Made in Japan
Deep Purple's album "Machine Head" features the famous "Smoke on the Water" riff, which has become one of the most recognizable guitar openings in rock history. The song recounts the band's experience at a Montreux casino fire.
Which rock movement, emerging in the late 1960s, was characterized by extended instrumental jams and experimental sound effects?
New wave
Psychedelic rock
Glam rock
Grunge
Psychedelic rock of the late 1960s used experimental studio effects, extended jams, and lyrical themes inspired by altered states. Bands like Pink Floyd and The Doors exemplified this movement's innovative approach.
What is a "power chord" in rock music terminology?
A chord played only on acoustic guitar
A chord consisting of the root and fifth notes, omitting the third
A chord with added seventh and ninth
A minor triad played on distortion
A power chord typically includes only the root and fifth notes, creating a clean, open sound that works well with distortion. Omitting the third makes it neither major nor minor, which adds flexibility in rock contexts.
"Stairway to Heaven" is a signature track from which Led Zeppelin album?
Houses of the Holy
Physical Graffiti
Presence
Led Zeppelin IV
"Stairway to Heaven" opens Led Zeppelin's fourth album, commonly known as "Led Zeppelin IV." The track's intricate build and melody have made it one of rock's most enduring classics.
Which guitarist is famous for popularizing the wah-wah pedal in rock music during the late 1960s?
Eric Clapton
Carlos Santana
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix's use of the wah-wah pedal added expressive, vocal-like tones to his solos. His innovative pedal work on tracks like "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" shaped the sound of psychedelic and rock guitar.
Which British rock band is often credited with influencing the punk rock movement through its raw energy and stage antics?
The Who
Deep Purple
Pink Floyd
The Kinks
The Who's aggressive performances and rebellious attitude in the 1960s presaged punk's raw energy and DIY ethos. Their destructiveness on stage and stripped-down sound resonated with later punk acts.
The opening lyric "Hello, darkness, my old friend" belongs to which folk-rock duo?
The Everly Brothers
Peter, Paul and Mary
Simon & Garfunkel
Crosby, Stills & Nash
The lyric opens Simon & Garfunkel's song "The Sound of Silence," released in 1965. The track's haunting melody and introspective words cemented the duo's status in folk-rock.
In song structure, what does the term "bridge" refer to?
The introduction played at the start
A solo improvisation section
A contrasting section connecting two parts of a song
The main repeated chorus section
A bridge is a transitional section that contrasts with verses and choruses, often leading back to them. It adds variety and can build tension before the final chorus.
Which guitar technique involves smoothly playing a sequence of notes across adjacent strings with one continuous motion?
Tapping
Palm muting
Bending
Sweep picking
Sweep picking uses a single, fluid motion to play arpeggios across adjacent strings, enabling very fast note sequences. It became a staple in rock and metal guitar solos.
Which Beatles album is widely regarded as the first rock concept album, influencing countless artists?
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles (White Album)
Revolver
Abbey Road
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is often cited as the first rock concept album because its songs were designed to flow together under a unifying theme. Its innovative production and sequencing influenced generations of rock musicians.
The lyric "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" opens which 1975 song by Queen?
We Will Rock You
Killer Queen
Somebody to Love
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" begins with the line "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" and is noted for its operatic structure and genre-blending. It remains one of rock's most ambitious songs.
Which 1964 song by The Kinks is noted for its distorted power chord riff that influenced hard rock and heavy metal?
Tired of Waiting for You
Sunny Afternoon
You Really Got Me
All Day and All of the Night
"You Really Got Me" features a raw, distorted power chord riff that inspired countless hard rock and early heavy metal bands. Its simplicity and energy were groundbreaking in 1964.
In rock music rhythm, what does the term "backbeat" describe?
A drum fill at the end of a verse
A snare drum technique using brushes
Emphasis on the second and fourth beats in 4/4 time
A syncopated rhythm between measures
The backbeat places strong accents on beats two and four in a 4/4 measure, which is a defining feature of most rock and pop music. It contrasts with the stronger downbeats on one and three.
Which late 1970s rock movement rejected the complex arrangements of progressive rock in favor of simplicity and raw energy?
Punk rock
Glam rock
New wave
Disco
Punk rock emerged in the late 1970s as a reaction against the elaborate structures of progressive rock, emphasizing short songs, simple chords, and direct attitudes. It profoundly impacted subsequent rock subgenres.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify classic rock bands and their landmark albums
  2. Analyse song lyrics to match artists or eras
  3. Evaluate the influence of major rock movements
  4. Master iconic guitar riffs and melodies
  5. Demonstrate understanding of rock music terminology

Cheat Sheet

  1. Discover "Led Zeppelin I" - Get ready to rock with Led Zeppelin's explosive debut album that fuses hard-hitting riffs, heavy bluesy grooves, and a raw energy that defined a generation. Iconic tracks like "Dazed and Confused" and "Good Times Bad Times" still send shivers down spines today.
  2. Dive into The Doors' self-titled album - The Doors' debut blasts open psychedelic doorways with hypnotic organ waves, Jim Morrison's poetic vocals, and an avant-garde edge. Classics like "Light My Fire" and "The End" still captivate fans with their trippy, cinematic vibes.
  3. Master the riff - A riff is a short, catchy musical phrase that hooks listeners and drives the groove of a song. Rock legends use riffs to create unforgettable moments - think of the opening licks of "Smoke on the Water" or Zeppelin's thunderous intro to "Whole Lotta Love."
  4. Break down the 32-bar form - Often seen in early rock and pop, the 32-bar form organizes music into four 8-bar sections following an AABA pattern. This structure offers a familiar roadmap for both writers and listeners, keeping tunes memorable and balanced.
  5. Analyze Led Zeppelin's blues-rock fusion - By blending Delta blues structures with roaring rock energy, Led Zeppelin forged a new sonic path that inspired countless bands. Exploring this mix reveals how they honored traditions while pushing musical boundaries.
  6. Evaluate The Doors' impact on psychedelia - The Doors' debut didn't just ride the psychedelic wave; it reshaped it with eerie keys, rebellious lyrics, and improvisational flair. Their magic touch proved that rock could be mind-bending and introspective at once.
  7. Master iconic guitar riffs - From Zeppelin's crunch to Deep Purple's roar, signature riffs define classic rock's sonic identity. Studying famous riffs helps you grasp musical anatomy and sparks creative riff-writing for your own future hits.
  8. Learn essential rock terms - Words like "riff," "bridge," "chorus," and "verse" are your map to navigating song structures. Knowing these terms transforms you from a passive listener into a savvy music analyst.
  9. Explore evolution of the 32-bar form - Once the backbone of Tin Pan Alley and early rock charts, the 32-bar form's AABA scheme shapes countless hits. Modern songwriters still borrow its balanced flow to craft verses and bridges that stick.
  10. Investigate rock's landmark albums - Albums like "Led Zeppelin I" and The Doors' debut aren't just music; they're cultural milestones that mirrored social shifts and inspired generations. Diving into their stories uncovers rock's roots and ever-changing landscape.
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