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Quizzes > Music

General music test: how much do you know?

Quick, free music trivia quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Aria Adhi DharmaUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Colorful paper art vinyl record microphone headphones and music notes on dark blue background for a fun general music quiz

This general music test helps you check what you know across decades and styles, from pop and rock to hip-hop and classical. Answer quick questions and get instant results with a short score breakdown. Want more? Try our pop music quiz or explore riffs and legends with rock music trivia, and brush up on terms in the music terminology quiz.

What is the musical term for the speed or pace of a piece of music?
Harmony
Tempo
Melody
Dynamics
The term tempo refers to the speed or pace at which music is performed. It is commonly measured in beats per minute (BPM). Changes in tempo can significantly affect the feel and style of a piece. More information on tempo can be found .
How many semitones are there in one octave?
12
8
7
5
In Western music, an octave is divided into 12 equal semitones in the equal temperament system. Each semitone represents one half-step in pitch. This division allows for consistent tuning across all keys. For more details see .
Which instrument is typically known for having 88 keys?
Piano
Harp
Violin
Saxophone
The modern grand and upright piano usually has 88 keys, covering a range of seven octaves plus a minor third. This standard was established in the late 19th century. Other keyboard instruments may have fewer keys. Learn more about piano design .
What symbol indicates a sharp note in sheet music?
b
?
??
#
The sharp symbol (#) raises a pitch by one semitone. The flat symbol (b) lowers a pitch by one semitone, while the natural symbol (?) cancels a previous sharp or flat. The G clef (??) is another name for the treble clef. See more about accidentals .
The Beatles originated from which country?
Australia
England
USA
Canada
The Beatles formed in Liverpool, England, in 1960. They became one of the most influential bands in music history. Their British origins were integral to the 'British Invasion' of the US charts. More on their history .
'Bohemian Rhapsody' was performed by which band?
Queen
The Rolling Stones
The Who
Pink Floyd
'Bohemian Rhapsody' was written and performed by Queen, with Freddie Mercury as lead vocalist. It was released on their 1975 album A Night at the Opera. The song is renowned for its complex structure and operatic sections. Read more about it .
What is another common name for the treble clef?
G clef
C clef
S clef
F clef
The treble clef is often called the G clef because its symbol wraps around the G line on the staff. The F clef denotes the bass clef, and the C clef indicates alto or tenor clefs. The S clef is not a standard notation. More on clefs .
Which composer wrote the 'Eroica' Symphony, also known as Symphony No. 3?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Johannes Brahms
Franz Schubert
Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven composed his Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55, nicknamed 'Eroica'. It premiered in 1805 and marked a turning point toward the Romantic era. Mozart and Schubert wrote their third symphonies earlier but not titled Eroica. More on the Eroica .
In musical notation, a note that lasts for half the duration of a whole note is called what?
Half note
Eighth note
Quarter note
Sixteenth note
A half note, also known as a minim, lasts for two beats in common time, which is half the duration of a whole note (semibreve). Quarter notes last one beat, eighth notes half a beat, and sixteenth notes a quarter of a beat. More on note values .
Which scale consists of five distinct notes per octave?
Chromatic scale
Whole tone scale
Pentatonic scale
Major scale
A pentatonic scale contains five notes per octave. It is common in many musical traditions, including blues, folk, and East Asian music. The chromatic scale has twelve, the major has seven, and the whole tone has six. More on pentatonic scales .
Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer of which musical period?
Romantic
Modern
Baroque
Classical
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) was one of the central composers of the Baroque era. His works, including the Brandenburg Concertos and the Well-Tempered Clavier, typify Baroque style. The Classical period followed his lifetime. More on Baroque music .
Which jazz musician was nicknamed "Satchmo"?
Miles Davis
Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Charlie Parker
Louis Armstrong was affectionately called "Satchmo," short for "Satchel Mouth." He was a pioneering trumpeter and vocalist. His influence on jazz and popular music is immense. More on his life .
What is the relative minor key of C major?
B minor
E minor
D minor
A minor
The relative minor of a major key shares the same key signature but starts on the sixth degree. For C major, the sixth scale degree is A, making A minor the relative minor. A minor and C major both have no sharps or flats. More on key relationships .
In music, what does "allegro" indicate?
Fast or lively tempo
Slow tempo
Soft volume
A style of composition
Allegro is an Italian term meaning fast or lively. It is one of the most common tempo markings in classical music. It generally indicates a speed between 120 and 168 beats per minute. More on allegro .
Which interval spans seven semitones?
Minor sixth
Tritone
Perfect fifth
Major third
In twelve-tone equal temperament, a perfect fifth spans seven semitones. The major third spans four, the minor sixth eight, and the tritone six semitones. The perfect fifth is consonant and foundational to harmony. More on intervals .
A key signature with three flats corresponds to which major key?
E-flat major
A-flat major
B-flat major
D-flat major
In key signatures, three flats correspond to E-flat major (and its relative minor, C minor). A-flat major has four flats, D-flat major five, and B-flat major two. Key signature charts clarify this mapping. More on key signatures .
Which chord progression is typical in a basic 12-bar blues?
ii-V-I
I-IV-ii-V
I-IV-V
I-V-vi-IV
The I-IV-V chord progression underpins the classic 12-bar blues form. It cycles through the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords over twelve measures. Jazz standards often use ii-V-I instead, while I-V-vi-IV is common in pop. More on blues form .
Who composed 'The Rite of Spring', which famously caused a riot at its premiere?
Claude Debussy
Maurice Ravel
Sergei Prokofiev
Igor Stravinsky
'The Rite of Spring' was composed by Igor Stravinsky and premiered in Paris in 1913. Its avant-garde rhythms and dissonances shocked audiences, prompting a famous riot. The piece is now hailed as a masterpiece of modernism. More on its history .
What tuning system divides the octave into twelve equal parts?
Just intonation
Meantone temperament
Equal temperament
Pythagorean tuning
Equal temperament is a tuning system that divides the octave into twelve equal semitones. It allows instruments to play in any key with minimal tuning discrepancies. Just intonation and Pythagorean tuning adjust intervals based on harmonic ratios, and meantone tempers some intervals differently. More on tuning .
In sonata form, what section follows the development?
Introduction
Coda
Exposition
Recapitulation
Sonata form typically has three main sections: exposition, development, and recapitulation. The recapitulation restates themes from the exposition, usually in the home key. A coda may follow, but the recapitulation immediately follows the development. More on sonata form .
What device is used to keep a steady tempo in practice?
Tuner
Metronome
Transposer
Amplifier
A metronome produces a steady pulse (beats per minute) to help musicians maintain consistent timing. Tuners help with pitch accuracy, amplifiers increase volume, and transposers change key. Electronic and mechanical metronomes serve the same purpose. More on metronomes .
What is the term for gradually increasing volume in music?
Legato
Staccato
Crescendo
Diminuendo
A crescendo indicates a gradual increase in loudness. The opposite, diminuendo (or decrescendo), signals a decrease in volume. Staccato means short and detached, while legato means smooth and connected. More on dynamics .
Which composer is credited with developing the twelve-tone technique?
Igor Stravinsky
Arnold Bax
Alban Berg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg pioneered the twelve-tone, or dodecaphonic, technique in the early 20th century. This method treats all twelve notes of the chromatic scale equally to avoid traditional tonal hierarchy. His students, including Berg and Webern, further developed serialism. More on twelve-tone technique .
Who composed the silent musical piece titled "4'33""?
John Cage
Erik Satie
John Adams
Philip Glass
John Cage composed 4'33" in 1952, instructing performers not to play their instruments for the duration of the piece. It challenges listeners to consider ambient sounds as musical content. The work is a landmark in experimental music. More on 4'33" .
What is a Picardy third in Western music?
A chord built on the flattened third degree
A type of dance in triple meter
A sudden modulation to the third scale degree
A major chord at the end of a minor-key piece
A Picardy third occurs when a piece in a minor key ends on a major chord by raising the third of the final chord. This practice was common in the Renaissance and Baroque eras. It provides a brighter or more uplifting conclusion. More on Picardy thirds .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Diverse Music Genres -

    Learn to distinguish major music styles - from rock and pop to jazz and classical - by recognizing their unique sounds and historical contexts.

  2. Identify Iconic Bands and Artists -

    Test your ability to name famous bands, solo artists, and their hit songs, sharpening your recall of pop culture milestones.

  3. Analyze Song Lyrics and Themes -

    Develop skills in interpreting common lyrical motifs and themes across genres to deepen your appreciation of songwriting craft.

  4. Evaluate Your Music Knowledge -

    Measure how much you know about music trivia, spotting areas of strength and opportunities for further exploration.

  5. Apply Trivia Strategies -

    Use quiz-based techniques to improve recall and memory retention when tackling music trivia questions.

  6. Share and Compare Results -

    Gain confidence in presenting your quiz score to friends and use it as a fun conversation starter about your musical tastes.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understanding Intervals -

    Intervals measure the pitch distance between two notes in semitones - four semitones make a major third, seven a perfect fifth. A popular mnemonic from Berklee Online, "Oh When the Saints," helps internalize whole and half steps in the major scale. Mastering intervals powers up your ear so you can see how much you know when you take a general music quiz.

  2. The Circle of Fifths -

    The Circle of Fifths organizes key signatures by ascending perfect fifths, helping you visualize sharp and flat keys clockwise or counterclockwise. Use "Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle" to memorize the order of sharps (F, C, G, D, A, E, B), a tip from Oxford Music Online. This tool is indispensable when you test your music knowledge on chord progressions in a music trivia quiz.

  3. Genre Characteristics -

    Recognizing genres - pop's verse-chorus form, jazz's swing rhythms, classical sonata structures - comes from analyzing defining elements in reputable sources like Oxford University Press. For example, jazz often features blue notes and improvisation over 4/4 swing feel, while classical pieces adhere to structured development sections. Knowing these traits boosts confidence in any pop music quiz or online music quiz challenge.

  4. Band and Artist Milestones -

    Key historical moments - The Beatles' formation in 1960, MTV's launch in 1981, or Beyoncé's solo debut in 2003 - shape pop culture and are highlighted by Encyclopaedia Britannica. Construct a timeline with milestone dates to anchor your trivia answers and recall them under pressure. This strategy ensures you're always ready to test your music knowledge with friends.

  5. Chart Metrics and Trivia -

    Billboard's Hot 100 ranks songs using sales, streaming, and radio airplay data according to their official website; knowing these metrics helps decode chart history. For instance, Drake's "One Dance" spent 10 weeks at number one in 2016, a record for a male artist at the time. Reviewing such facts will sharpen your responses in any music trivia quiz or pop music quiz.

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