170+ Music Trivia Questions and Answers for Every Genre Fan

Whether you are hosting a trivia night at your local bar, planning a game night with friends, or just testing your own knowledge, music is one of the best trivia categories going. It crosses generations, cultures, and taste, so there is a question for everyone at the table.

Below are 170 music trivia questions and answers, sorted by difficulty and genre, with dedicated sections for rock, pop, hip-hop, country, and classical. To turn them into a full game show, Quizado's Name That Tune game is the easiest way to run a music-themed night.

Easy Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Beginner-friendly questions to warm up the crowd. Most people will know these, which builds confidence and gets everyone playing early.

1. What instrument has 88 keys? Piano

2. Which Beatles member was known as the "Quiet Beatle"? George Harrison

3. What genre of music did Elvis Presley help popularize? Rock and roll

4. How many members were in the Spice Girls? Five

5. What does a drummer play? Drums (drum kit)

6. Which artist is known as the "Queen of Pop"? Madonna

7. What is the name of the musical scale that contains five notes? Pentatonic scale

8. Which country is K-pop from? South Korea

9. What does "MTV" stand for? Music Television

10. What is the highest-selling album of all time? Thriller by Michael Jackson

11. Which instrument has six strings in its standard form? Guitar

12. What band performed "Bohemian Rhapsody"? Queen

13. What type of music is performed without electronic instruments? Acoustic

14. Who sang "Rolling in the Deep"? Adele

15. What musical term means to gradually get louder? Crescendo

16. Which artist released the album 1989? Taylor Swift

17. What annual music awards show is hosted by the Recording Academy? The Grammy Awards

18. What instrument does a violinist play? Violin

19. Which pop star is known as "Queen Bey"? Beyonce

20. What was the name of Michael Jackson's signature dance move? The Moonwalk

21. What is the first note of the C major scale? C (or Do)

22. Which boy band sang "Bye Bye Bye"? NSYNC

23. What is the small device used to strum a guitar called? A pick (or plectrum)

24. Who performed the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023? Rihanna

25. What does "R&B" stand for? Rhythm and Blues

26. How many strings does a standard ukulele have? Four

27. Which Disney movie features the song "Let It Go"? Frozen

28. What city is known as the birthplace of jazz? New Orleans

29. What is the term for a song performed by one person? A solo

30. Who is known as the "King of Pop"? Michael Jackson

31. What instrument is Yo-Yo Ma famous for playing? Cello

32. Which British band had members named John, Paul, George, and Ringo? The Beatles

33. What is the musical term for playing softly? Piano (or pianissimo for very softly)

34. What streaming platform is known for its green logo and playlists? Spotify

35. Which singer's real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta? Lady Gaga

Medium Music Trivia Questions and Answers

A step up. Good for the middle rounds once players have warmed up.

36. What rock band was Freddie Mercury the lead singer of? Queen

37. Which artist has won the most Grammy Awards of all time? Beyonce

38. What 1977 Bee Gees soundtrack became one of the best-selling soundtracks ever? Saturday Night Fever

39. What instrument does a concertmaster play in an orchestra? Violin (first violin)

40. Which rapper's real name is Marshall Mathers? Eminem

41. What is the term for the speed of a piece of music? Tempo

42. Which band released the album Dark Side of the Moon? Pink Floyd

43. What year did Woodstock take place? 1969

44. Who wrote the song "Imagine"? John Lennon

45. What is a musical composition for a full orchestra called? A symphony

46. Which country singer is known as the "Man in Black"? Johnny Cash

47. What hip-hop group included will.i.am, Taboo, and apl.de.ap? The Black Eyed Peas

48. Who composed "The Four Seasons"? Antonio Vivaldi

49. What guitar brand was founded by Leo Fender in 1946? Fender

50. Which artist released the hit "Wrecking Ball" in 2013? Miley Cyrus

51. What does "BPM" stand for in music production? Beats Per Minute

52. Which legendary guitarist was left-handed and played a right-handed guitar flipped upside down? Jimi Hendrix

53. What is the Italian term for a brisk, lively tempo? Allegro

54. What band was Kurt Cobain the frontman of? Nirvana

55. Which artist released the album Lemonade in 2016? Beyonce

56. What instrument is Ravi Shankar famous for playing? Sitar

57. Which music festival takes place in Indio, California every spring? Coachella

58. What is the term for a singer rapidly alternating pitch slightly to add warmth? Vibrato

59. Which artist released the album The Blueprint? Jay-Z

60. What Nashville venue is known as the "Mother Church of Country Music"? The Ryman Auditorium (former home of the Grand Ole Opry)

61. Which rock band recorded "Stairway to Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love"? Led Zeppelin

62. What year was the first iPod released? 2001

63. Who sang "Respect," turning it into an anthem in 1967? Aretha Franklin

64. What does "DJ" stand for? Disc Jockey

65. Which artist wore a lightning bolt across his face on the Aladdin Sane cover? David Bowie

66. What musical key has no sharps or flats? C major (or A minor)

67. What is the lowest female singing voice called? Contralto (or alto)

68. Which rapper released the album To Pimp a Butterfly? Kendrick Lamar

69. What genre combines punk rock with pop melodies? Pop-punk

70. Who composed the wedding march often played as brides walk down the aisle? Richard Wagner (from Lohengrin), while the recessional is Felix Mendelssohn's

71. What is the time signature of a waltz? 3/4

Hard Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Only true music buffs will get these. Save them for the final rounds or bonus questions at your next bar trivia night.

72. Which classical composer kept writing music after going completely deaf? Ludwig van Beethoven

73. What song did Bob Dylan open his controversial electric set with at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival? "Maggie's Farm" (he also played "Like a Rolling Stone" that set)

74. What is the Köchel catalogue used for? Cataloguing the compositions of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

75. Which 1997 Radiohead album is often ranked among the greatest ever made? OK Computer

76. What is a tritone, and why was it historically called "the Devil's interval"? An interval of three whole tones (augmented fourth or diminished fifth). It was called "diabolus in musica" for its dissonant sound.

77. Who played the famous slide guitar on "Layla" alongside Eric Clapton? Duane Allman

78. What time signature is Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" written in? 5/4

79. Which Puccini opera features the aria "Nessun Dorma"? Turandot

80. What production technique, pioneered by Phil Spector, layers many instruments and vocals into a dense sound? The Wall of Sound

81. Which Motown songwriting and production team was known as Holland-Dozier-Holland? Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland

82. What is the term for moving a piece of music to a different key? Modulation (a key change)

83. Which jazz saxophonist was known for his "sheets of sound" technique? John Coltrane

84. What is the real name of The Weeknd? Abel Tesfaye

85. Which was the first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200? Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John (1975)

86. What sampling technique chops and rearranges vinyl drum breaks? Breakbeat sampling

87. Who is credited with popularizing the solid-body electric guitar? Les Paul (Leo Fender developed one independently around the same time)

88. What is a Neapolitan sixth chord? A major chord built on the lowered second scale degree, usually in first inversion

89. What 1991 album is credited with bringing grunge to the mainstream? Nevermind by Nirvana

90. Which composer's Symphony No. 8 is known as the "Unfinished Symphony"? Franz Schubert

91. What is the highest male singing voice called? Countertenor

92. Who is credited with creating the "Motown Sound"? Berry Gordy (with the house band, the Funk Brothers)

93. What Miles Davis album is the best-selling jazz album of all time? Kind of Blue

94. What tuning system divides the octave into 12 equal parts? Equal temperament

95. Which rapper's debut album Illmatic is considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever? Nas

96. Which mode starts on the second degree of the major scale and has a minor quality? Dorian mode

97. Who was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Aretha Franklin (1987)

98. What Memphis studio, founded by Sam Phillips, launched Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis? Sun Studio

99. What is polyrhythm? The simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythmic patterns

100. Which electronic pioneer released Selected Ambient Works 85-92? Aphex Twin (Richard D. James)

101. What does "MIDI" stand for? Musical Instrument Digital Interface

102. Which progressive rock band released the concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway? Genesis

103. What is the circle of fifths used for? Showing the relationships between the 12 tones, their key signatures, and related major and minor keys

104. Who composed "Rhapsody in Blue"? George Gershwin

105. Which bassist played with Jimi Hendrix in the Band of Gypsys? Billy Cox

Rock Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Rock legends, iconic albums, and guitar heroes.

106. What was the name of the top-hatted lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses? Slash

107. Which band released the album Back in Black in 1980? AC/DC

108. What was the first music video played on MTV? "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles

109. Which rock musician was nicknamed "The Lizard King"? Jim Morrison (The Doors)

110. What British band featured brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher? Oasis

111. Which wild-styled drummer defined the sound of The Who? Keith Moon

112. What album by The Clash is often called the punk album for people who do not like punk? London Calling

113. Which guitarist plays a homemade guitar called the "Red Special"? Brian May (Queen)

114. What Deep Purple song features one of the most recognizable riffs in rock? "Smoke on the Water"

115. Which band's logo is a tongue and lips? The Rolling Stones

116. What was Janis Joplin's early backing band called? Big Brother and the Holding Company

117. Which rock opera by The Who tells the story of a "deaf, dumb, and blind" boy? Tommy

118. What year did Jimi Hendrix play his legendary Woodstock set? 1969

119. Which band released the album Rumours in 1977? Fleetwood Mac

120. What band was originally called "The New Yardbirds"? Led Zeppelin

Pop Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Chart-toppers and pop culture moments.

121. What was Britney Spears' debut single? "...Baby One More Time"

122. Which pop star's 2020 documentary was titled Miss Americana? Taylor Swift

123. What Luis Fonsi song became one of the most-viewed YouTube videos ever? "Despacito"

124. Which member of Destiny's Child had the most successful solo career? Beyonce

125. What is the best-selling single of all time worldwide? "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby

126. Which artist released the album Future Nostalgia in 2020? Dua Lipa

127. What was the first video to reach one billion views on YouTube? "Gangnam Style" by PSY

128. Which pop duo was stripped of their Grammy after a lip-syncing scandal? Milli Vanilli

129. What pop star has an alter ego named "Sasha Fierce"? Beyonce

130. Which singer released the hit "Blinding Lights" in 2020? The Weeknd

131. What was Madonna's first number-one hit in the United States? "Like a Virgin"

132. Which act was the first to top the Billboard Hot 100 with a Korean-language song? BTS (with "Life Goes On," 2020)

133. What song holds the record for most weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100? "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X (19 weeks)

134. What is the name of Ariana Grande's signature hairstyle? High ponytail

135. Which singer starred in A Star Is Born alongside Bradley Cooper? Lady Gaga

Hip-Hop Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Old school to modern rap: the culture, the artists, the records.

136. What is widely considered the first commercially successful hip-hop song? "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang (1979)

137. Which rapper founded Bad Boy Records? Sean "Diddy" Combs

138. What Long Island group released It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back? Public Enemy

139. Which rapper won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018? Kendrick Lamar (for DAMN.)

140. What does the hip-hop term "bars" refer to? Lyrics or lines in a rap verse

141. Which city is considered the birthplace of hip-hop? New York City (the South Bronx)

142. What was Tupac Shakur's posthumously released 1996 album? The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (as Makaveli)

143. Who released the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill? Lauryn Hill

144. Which producer is known for the early "chipmunk soul" sampling style? Kanye West

145. Which rapper's real name is Shawn Corey Carter? Jay-Z

146. What are the four foundational elements of hip-hop culture? DJing, MCing (rapping), breakdancing, and graffiti

147. Which rapper released The Slim Shady LP as his major-label debut? Eminem

148. What battle rap league hosts some of the most famous rap battles? Ultimate Rap League (URL)

149. Which Atlanta duo is made up of Andre 3000 and Big Boi? OutKast

150. What does "trap" refer to in hip-hop? A Southern subgenre named after "trap houses," marked by rapid hi-hats, heavy 808 bass, and dark melodies

Country Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Nashville legends and modern stars.

151. Which singer is often called the "Queen of Country"? Dolly Parton (Reba McEntire also holds the title)

152. Which song begins "I fell into a burning ring of fire"? "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash

153. What city is considered the capital of country music? Nashville, Tennessee

154. Which artist crossed over to pop with the album Fearless? Taylor Swift

155. What is the name of the annual country music awards show? The CMA Awards

156. Which legend wrote "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" on the same day? Dolly Parton

157. What long-running variety show helped launch country careers in the 60s and 70s? Hee Haw

158. Which modern country artist recorded "Body Like a Back Road"? Sam Hunt

159. What instrument is essential to bluegrass and closely tied to country? Banjo

160. Which supergroup featured Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson? The Highwaymen

Classical Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Symphonies to sonatas, for the more cultured players.

161. How many symphonies did Ludwig van Beethoven complete? Nine

162. What Tchaikovsky ballet is performed every Christmas? The Nutcracker

163. Which came first: the Baroque or the Romantic period? Baroque (roughly 1600 to 1750, versus roughly 1820 to 1900 for Romantic)

164. What nationality was composer Frederic Chopin? Polish (he spent much of his life in France)

165. Which Beethoven work is known as the "Moonlight Sonata"? Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2

166. What instrument did Franz Liszt famously play? Piano

167. Which composer wrote "The Four Seasons"? Antonio Vivaldi

168. What is a composition for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra called? A concerto

169. Which Russian composer wrote Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty? Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

170. What is a fugue? A technique where a theme is introduced in one voice and then imitated by other voices in succession

How to use these questions for game night

A few ways to put 170 questions to work:

• Organize by rounds. Use the difficulty sections as natural rounds: start easy, build to medium, save the hard ones for the finale.
• Mix in genre rounds. Alternate difficulty rounds with genre rounds so rock or hip-hop fans get their moment.
• Add audio clips. Pair questions with song clips for a true Name That Tune experience: play a few seconds and have teams name the track before the related question.
• Use a game show format. Run it as Jeopardy or Family Feud with Quizado for buzzers, on-screen scoring, and custom questions.
• Keep teams small. Three to five per team keeps everyone involved; bigger teams carry passengers.

If you are organizing bar or restaurant trivia, music rounds are reliable crowd favorites. They spark debates, singalongs, and friendly trash talk, which is exactly what fills a room on a weeknight.

For more rounds, see our sports trivia questions or our fun trivia questions for adults.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good music trivia question? Cover a range of difficulty and genres so everyone can play. The best questions have clear, definitive answers and get people talking: iconic songs, famous artists, music history, and genre origins all work well.

How many questions do I need for a music trivia night? A typical night runs 4 to 6 rounds of 8 to 10 questions, so 30 to 60 total. This post has 170, enough for several events without repeating.

What is the best format for music trivia? Written questions plus audio clips is the most engaging combination. Playing a few seconds of a song and asking teams to name it keeps the energy up. Game show formats like Jeopardy or Name That Tune add a competitive edge, and Quizado makes them easy to set up.

Can I use these questions for bar trivia? Yes, that is exactly what they are built for. Use them as they are or tailor them to your crowd.

Which music categories work best for trivia? Classic rock, 80s and 90s pop, hip-hop history, one-hit wonders, and "name that song" audio rounds are reliable. Mix familiar categories with niche ones like classical or country to keep it interesting.

How do I make music trivia more interactive? Use a platform like Quizado to put questions on screen, play clips, and let teams buzz in. Award bonus points for teams that can sing a lyric or name an album cover.