Music is something that connects with many of us at different times of our lives. These music trivia questions and answers will challenge your music history knowledge.
Learn about the year Elvis Presley had his first hit. Discover the rapper whose real name is Calvin Broadus.
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Music Trivia Questions And Answers 1. How many songs did Lennon and McCartney write together? Reveal Answer 180 2. Between Lennon and McCartney, who had the most number-one hits in the US? Reveal Answer McCartney 3. Between Lennon and McCartney, who had the most number-one hits in the UK? Reveal Answer Lennon 4. What year did Elvis Presley have his first hit, “Heartbreak Hotel?” Reveal Answer 1956 5. Before being recognized by their more popular name, what music group was originally known as the New Yardbirds? Reveal Answer Led Zeppelin 6. What band had the first music video on MTV? Reveal Answer The Buggles 7. Where is the group 5 Seconds of Summer from? Reveal Answer Australia 8. Who is the godmother of Elton John’s two sons? Reveal Answer Lady Gaga 9. Who was the drummer of Nirvana that would later become the lead singer of the Foo Fighters? Reveal Answer Dave Grohl 10. What family group is known for recording hits such as “Shout” and “It’s Your Thing?” Reveal Answer The Isley Brothers 11. What city is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame located in? Reveal Answer Cleveland 12. What American Idol finalist would go on to win an Oscar in the popular musical film, Dreamgirls? Reveal Answer Jennifer Hudson 13. What name does Calvin Broadus more famously go by? Reveal Answer Snoop Dogg 14. What popular song 1980s gained new attention through the internet meme known as Rickrolling? Reveal Answer Never Gonna Give You Up 15. What 90s band is known for the hit songs “Walkin’ on the Sun” and “All Star?” Reveal Answer Smash Mouth 16. What boy band singer and female pop star had a reality show together documenting their marriage? Reveal Answer Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson 17. Who is the lead singer of Paramore? Reveal Answer Hayley Williams 18. Who rapped on the remix of J-Lo’s song “I’m Real?” Reveal Answer Ja Rule 19. In the 2000s, what American rapper popularized the use of autotune in his songs “I’m Sprung” and “Buy U a Drank?” Reveal Answer T-Pain 20. Mick Jagger is the lead singer of what popular rock band? Reveal Answer The Rolling Stones 21. What rock band had a hit in 2000 with the song “It’s a Beautiful Day?” Reveal Answer U2 22. What future bandmate Justin Timberlake also appeared as a Mouseketeer on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club? Reveal Answer JC Chasez 23. What female pop singer went on to become a billionaire with her cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty? Reveal Answer Rihanna 24. Who was the lead singer of The Temptations when they released their hit songs “Aint To Proud To Beg” and “My Girl?” Reveal Answer David Ruffin 25. What Motown artist was first signed to a record deal at age 11? Reveal Answer Stevie Wonder 26. What two singers wrote the popular 80’s charity single, “We Are The World?” Reveal Answer Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie 27. What rock singer goes by the nickname “The Boss?” Reveal Answer Bruce Springsteen 28. Before having success singing the theme song for the movie “Ghostbusters,” what R&B group was Ray Parker Jr. a part of? Reveal Answer Raydio 29. Who is the singer behind the song “Achy Breaky Heart?” Reveal Answer Billy Ray Cyrus 30. What two legendary singers sang together on the songs “Say Say Say” and “The Girl Is Mine?” Reveal Answer Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney 31. What legendary American singer was nicknamed “Chairman of the Board?” Reveal Answer Frank Sinatra 32. What popular singer joined Anderson .Paak to form the musical super duo, Silk Sonic? Reveal Answer Bruno Mars 33. Who was the first female conductor at the “Last Night of the Proms” in the UK? Reveal Answer Marin Alsop in 2013.
34. Who composed the opera “The Marriage of Figaro”? Reveal Answer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
35. Who won the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956? Reveal Answer Lys Assia representing Switzerland.
36. What is John Lennon’s middle name? Reveal Answer Winston.
37. What 70s band was originally called “The New Yardbirds”? Reveal Answer Led Zeppelin.
38. Who is the lead vocalist of the rock band “Radiohead”? Reveal Answer Thom Yorke.
39. In which century was the piano invented? Reveal Answer 18th Century by Bartolomeo Cristofori.
40. Who was the first rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize? Reveal Answer Kendrick Lamar in 2018.
41. Which composer wrote the Brandenburg Concertos? Reveal Answer Johann Sebastian Bach.
42. What city is known as the birthplace of Jazz? Reveal Answer New Orleans.
43. Who was known as the “King of Swing”? Reveal Answer Benny Goodman.
44. Who is the “Godfather of Soul”? Reveal Answer James Brown.
45. Which Beatles album is the best-selling of all time? Reveal Answer The Beatles (also known as the “White Album”).
46. What is the oldest known musical instrument? Reveal Answer The bone flute.
47. What instrument did jazz musician Miles Davis play? Reveal Answer Trumpet.
48. Who composed the music for the ballet “The Nutcracker”? Reveal Answer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
49. In what year did Elvis Presley die? Reveal Answer 1977.
50. What musical key has no flats or sharps? Reveal Answer C Major.
51. Who wrote the opera “Madame Butterfly”? Reveal Answer Giacomo Puccini.
52. Who was the first African-American to win the Grammy for Best New Artist? Reveal Answer The 8th Wonder of the World, Roberta Flack in 1974.
53. What was Mozart’s full name? Reveal Answer Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart.
54. Who composed the orchestral suite “The Planets”? Reveal Answer Gustav Holst.
55. What country does ABBA originate from? Reveal Answer Sweden.
56. Who composed the opera “Carmen”? Reveal Answer Georges Bizet.
57. Who was the first female artist to achieve a UK number one with a self-written song? Reveal Answer Kate Bush with “Wuthering Heights.”
58. Which artist holds the record for the most Grammy wins? Reveal Answer George Solti with 31 wins.
59. What is the national anthem of Canada? Reveal Answer “O Canada.”
60. Who composed the classical piece “Four Seasons”? Reveal Answer Antonio Vivaldi.
61. Who was the first American Idol winner? Reveal Answer Kelly Clarkson.
62. Who composed “Rhapsody in Blue”? Reveal Answer George Gershwin.
63. Which country singer was known as “The Man in Black”? Reveal Answer Johnny Cash.
64. Who was the youngest Beatle? Reveal Answer George Harrison.
65. What popular singer’s real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta? Reveal Answer Lady Gaga.
66. Which instrument is most associated with Carlos Santana? Reveal Answer Guitar.
67. Which jazz musician was known for his unique “scat” singing? Reveal Answer Louis Armstrong.
68. What instrument does Yo-Yo Ma primarily play? Reveal Answer Cello.
69. Who was the first artist to enter the UK Album Chart at number one? Reveal Answer Elvis Presley with his album “G.I. Blues.”
70. Which opera by Richard Wagner is commonly associated with the “Ride of the Valkyries”? Reveal Answer “Die Walküre.”
71. What was the name of Nirvana’s first album? Reveal Answer “Bleach.”
72. Which Beatles song holds the record for most versions covered by other artists? Reveal Answer “Yesterday.”
73. Who is often credited with inventing the solid body electric guitar? Reveal Answer Les Paul.
74. Who was the drummer for The Who? Reveal Answer Keith Moon.
75. Who is considered the “Queen of Soul”? Reveal Answer Aretha Franklin.
76. Which prolific composer wrote over 100 symphonies? Reveal Answer Joseph Haydn.
77. Who composed the “Moonlight Sonata”? Reveal Answer Ludwig van Beethoven.
78. What is the longest performance of a song according to the Guinness World Records? Reveal Answer “Organ²/ASLSP (As Slow as Possible)” by John Cage, scheduled to last 639 years.
79. Who was the first artist to have a posthumous UK number one? Reveal Answer Jim Reeves with “Distant Drums” in 1966.
80. Who was the lead singer of the band The Doors? Reveal Answer Jim Morrison. 81. Who composed the famous four-note opening of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony? Reveal Answer Ludwig van Beethoven 82. What is the Italian term for a musical composition that means ‘work’? Reveal Answer Opera 83. Which famous music group was originally known as the Quarrymen? Reveal Answer The Beatles 84. Who was known as the King of Pop? Reveal Answer Michael Jackson 85. Which instrument has forty-seven strings and seven pedals? Reveal Answer Harp 86. What is the name of the dance and music style that originated in Argentina? Reveal Answer Tango 87. What was the first video ever played on MTV? Reveal Answer Video Killed the Radio Star 88. Which artist is famous for the song ‘Like a Rolling Stone’? Reveal Answer Bob Dylan 89. What does the musical term ‘piano’ mean? Reveal Answer To play softly 90. What is the highest selling album of all time? Reveal Answer Thriller by Michael Jackson 91. Which musical features the song ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’? Reveal Answer Evita 92. What is the name of the famous British music festival held annually in Somerset? Reveal Answer Glastonbury 93. Which artist is known for the hit song ‘Purple Rain’? Reveal Answer Prince 94. Who was the lead singer of the band Queen? Reveal Answer Freddie Mercury 95. What is the name of the device used to measure the tempo of music? Reveal Answer Metronome 96. Which band released the hit song ‘Hotel California’? Reveal Answer Eagles 97. What is the name of the musical scale containing five notes per octave? Reveal Answer Pentatonic scale 98. Who composed the ‘Rite of Spring’? Reveal Answer Igor Stravinsky 99. What is the longest-running Broadway show? Reveal Answer The Phantom of the Opera 100. Who is known for the hit ‘I Will Always Love You’? Reveal Answer Whitney Houston 101. What is the term for a song without instrumental accompaniment? Reveal Answer A cappella 102. Which artist painted ‘The Old Guitarist’? Reveal Answer Pablo Picasso 103. What is the most common type of wood used for making violins? Reveal Answer Maple 104. Who wrote the song ‘Imagine’? Reveal Answer John Lennon 105. What is the name of the song that Queen performed at Live Aid in 1985? Reveal Answer Radio Ga Ga 106. Which female artist is known for the song ‘Bad Romance’? Reveal Answer Lady Gaga 107. What genre of music did Louis Armstrong specialize in? Reveal Answer Jazz 108. What type of dance is associated with the music of Johann Strauss II? Reveal Answer Waltz 109. What musical note is used to tune a standard orchestra? Reveal Answer A 110. Which rock band was fronted by Kurt Cobain? Reveal Answer Nirvana 111. What is the name of the Brazilian music style that incorporates samba and jazz? Reveal Answer Bossa Nova 112. Who composed the opera ‘The Barber of Seville’? Reveal Answer Gioachino Rossini 113. Which artist released ‘Born to Run’ in 1975? Reveal Answer Bruce Springsteen Sharing is Caring:
