String and Percussion Instruments

Can you tell a bowed string instrument from a percussion instrument just by how it is played? These quizzes on string and percussion instruments help you sort out two of the biggest families in the orchestra, starting from the very basics.

Getting to Know String and Percussion Instruments

One quiz walks through the percussion family, the instruments you play by hitting, shaking, or striking. You will name the collection of drums, figure out which one is the oldest, and learn that tubular bells are the formal name for what many people call chimes. The other quiz covers the string family, where sound comes from vibrating strings. You will pick out the smallest bowed string instrument, the violin, and the largest, the double bass.

Knowing which family an instrument belongs to makes it easier to follow along with a song, picture how an orchestra is arranged, or choose an instrument you might want to learn. These are the building blocks that the rest of music knowledge sits on top of.

Did You Know?

Here is the part that catches people off guard: the piano counts as a percussion instrument. When you press a key, you set off a small hammer that strikes the strings inside, so you are technically hitting something to make the sound. That single fact settles a lot of friendly arguments about where the piano really belongs.

How the Quizzes Work

Each quiz mixes fill-in-the-blank prompts with true or false questions, so newcomers can ease in without feeling lost. A round takes only about five minutes, and you can repeat it as many times as you like until the names stick. You will even learn that strings can be played two ways, either drawn across with a bow or plucked with the fingers, and no prior music theory is needed to start.

Ready to put a name to every drum, bow, and string? Pick one of these free interactive music quizzes and start matching instruments to their families today.

2. Percussion Instruments

Get to know the percussion family with this 12-question quiz on the instruments you play by hitting, shaking, or striking. Expect a mix of fill-in-the-blank and true or false prompts, such as What do you call the collection of drums? and Tubular bells are more popularly known as ___., which makes it friendly for newcomers. Here is something that catches people off guard, since the piano counts as a percussion instrument because you make sound by pressing keys that send small hammers against the strings. You will also sort out a few drums by name and figure out which one is the oldest. Recommended level: beginner.

score: 77% (everyone)

12 questions

3. String Instruments

This 12-question quiz walks through the string family, where sound comes from vibrating strings. You will answer prompts like What is the smallest of the bowed string instruments? and What is the largest among the bowed string instruments?, along with a few true or false items, so it works well for beginners. A detail worth remembering is that strings can be played in more than one way, either drawn across with a bow or plucked with the fingers, and the quiz asks you to tell the methods apart. You will also settle a common mix-up about whether the piano belongs in this family. Recommended level: beginner.

score: 87% (everyone)

12 questions