Music

Unusual Instruments Quiz: Can You Name the Instrument Played Without Touch?

What type of instrument is the hurdy-gurdy?

Stringed

Wind

Percussion

Keyboard

The hurdy-gurdy is a stringed instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings.

Which instrument is known for its use in Swiss folk music?

Alphorn

Bagpipes

Banjo

Sitar

The alphorn is notably used in Swiss folk music, recognizable by its long, pipe-like shape and deep, resonant sound.

The nyckelharpa is a traditional instrument from which country?

Italy

Sweden

Ireland

Japan

Originating in Sweden, the nyckelharpa is a stringed instrument with keys that is played with a bow.

Which instrument is played without direct physical contact?

Violin

Theremin

Harp

Flute

The theremin is unique because it is played by moving one’s hands in the proximity of two metal antennas, without physical contact.

Which instrument uses air and keys to produce sound?

Trumpet

Piano

Accordion

Drum kit

The accordion uses a set of bellows and keys to force air through reeds, producing a distinctive musical sound.

What is the bodhran traditionally played with?

Drumstick

Fingers

Bow

Both 1 and 2

The bodhran, an Irish frame drum, is traditionally played with both a tipper (drumstick) and the fingers to produce a variety of rhythms.

What is unique about the playing style of the kora?

Plucked like a harp

Bowed

Blown into

Struck with mallets

The kora, a West African stringed instrument, is played by plucking its 21 strings, similar to a harp but held vertically.

What is the glass armonica also known as?

Crystallophone

Glass harp

Hydrocrystalophone

All of the above

The glass armonica, invented by Benjamin Franklin, is also known by various names including the crystallophone, glass harp, and hydrocrystalophone.

Which stringed instrument has a round, gourd body?

Banjo

Guitar

Sitar

Ukulele

The sitar, distinguished by its deep, resonant sound, features a rounded gourd body which serves as a resonator.

What is the Chapman Stick primarily used to play?

Melody

Harmony

Rhythm

All of the above

The Chapman Stick is versatile and capable of playing melody, bass lines, chords, and rhythms simultaneously due to its unique design featuring multiple strings and a wide range.

Which instrument is similar in shape to a spaceship?

Hang drum

Ocarina

Sitar

Balalaika

The Hang drum is noted for its convex, flying saucer shape, which is metallic and typically played with the hands to produce melodic beats.

Which instrument resembles a large metal pan?

Timpani

Steel drum

Gong

Cymbal

The steel drum, originating from Trinidad and Tobago, is made from metal containers and played by striking the surface with mallets to produce musical notes.

What material is a quena typically made from?

Wood

Steel

Plastic

Bamboo

The quena is a traditional flute from the Andes, usually made from bamboo, known for its distinct, clear sound.

Which instrument is shaped like a trapezoid and played with mallets?

Xylophone

Hammered dulcimer

Lyre

Marimba

The hammered dulcimer is a stringed instrument that is trapezoidal in shape and played by striking the strings with small mallets.

Which instrument features a set of bellows and a keyboard?

Accordion

Piano

Harmonium

Organ

The harmonium, often used in Indian classical music, features a set of bellows that are pumped by hand and a keyboard to play musical notes.

What is the Hang primarily made of?

Wood

Steel

Brass

Clay

The Hang is a type of handpan made from two steel hemispheres glued together. It is played with the hands and produces a resonant, melodic sound.

The octobass is an unusually large version of what instrument?

Violin

Guitar

Double bass

Cello

The octobass is an oversized version of the double bass, standing at about 11 feet tall and used for producing extremely low notes.

From which country does the bandoneon originate?

Germany

Argentina

Italy

Spain

The bandoneon was originally developed in Germany, but it became particularly associated with the tango music of Argentina.

What is the main feature of the waterphone?

It uses water

It’s made of glass

It’s played underwater

Metal resonators

The main feature of the waterphone is its use of water inside the resonator, which creates hauntingly ethereal and otherworldly sounds when played.

What is the primary material used in making a didgeridoo?

Wood

Brass

Plastic

Ceramic

The didgeridoo is traditionally made from eucalyptus trees naturally hollowed out by termites, making wood its primary material.

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