Music Trivia Questions and Answers: 270+ Music Quiz

Music Quiz Rounds and How to Use Them

Music trivia works for a party, a classroom, a team event or a game night. The questions below are split by genre and decade, so you can build a quiz around the people in the room: an 80s round for one crowd, a rap or country round for another, a kids’ round for the family. Tap a question to see the answer.

Mix categories rather than running one genre all night, and open with easy questions so everyone scores early. Each round has a dozen or more questions, enough for a quick round, and you can combine two or three rounds for a full music trivia night.

Friends on a couch with snacks, one reading a music trivia question from a phone while the others shout guesses

Pop Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Hit songs and albums from the 2010s and 2020s, a good first round for a mixed group.

Which pop star released the album Future Nostalgia in 2020?
Dua Lipa.
Who sang the global hit “Rolling in the Deep”?
Adele.
Which pop artist is known for the song “Blinding Lights”?
The Weeknd.
Which singer released the album SOUR in 2021?
Olivia Rodrigo.
Who performed the hit “Call Me Maybe”?
Carly Rae Jepsen.
Which artist released “Sorry” in 2015, on the album Purpose?
Justin Bieber.
Who sang “All About That Bass”?
Meghan Trainor.
Which pop star released the album Positions in 2020?
Ariana Grande.
Which singer is known for the song “As It Was”?
Harry Styles.
Which singer released “Bad Romance”?
Lady Gaga.
Which singer had a hit with “Since U Been Gone”?
Kelly Clarkson.
Which singer released the hit “Royals”?
Lorde.
Which pop duo released “Closer” in 2016?
The Chainsmokers, featuring Halsey.
Which pop star sings “Beautiful Things”?
Benson Boone.
Which band included Harry Styles before he started his solo career?
One Direction.

80s Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Hit singles and albums from 1980 to 1989. If your group skews younger, keep this round short.

Who sang “Billie Jean”?
Michael Jackson.
Which pop star released the album Like a Virgin in 1984?
Madonna.
Which band recorded “Take On Me”?
A-ha.
Which rock band released the album Appetite for Destruction in 1987?
Guns N’ Roses.
Which singer released the album Purple Rain in 1984?
Prince.
Which band performed “Don’t Stop Believin’”?
Journey.
Which singer had a hit with “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”?
Cyndi Lauper.
Which British band released “Every Breath You Take” and the album Synchronicity in 1983?
The Police.
Which band released “Livin’ on a Prayer”?
Bon Jovi.
Which group recorded “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”?
Wham!
Which singer released “Faith” in 1987?
George Michael.
Which rock band recorded “Another One Bites the Dust”?
Queen.
Which band recorded “With or Without You”?
U2.
Which band recorded “Eye of the Tiger,” featured in Rocky III?
Survivor.
Which artist released “Let’s Dance” in 1983?
David Bowie.

90s Music Quiz: Questions and Answers

Boy bands, grunge, R&B and hip-hop hits and albums from the 1990s.

Cassette tapes, a portable CD player and a boombox on a coffee table next to a handwritten music quiz score sheet

Which band released the album Nevermind in 1991?
Nirvana.
Who sang “My Heart Will Go On” from the movie Titanic?
Celine Dion.
Which boy band released “I Want It That Way”?
Backstreet Boys.
Which pop singer released the debut single “…Baby One More Time” in 1998?
Britney Spears.
Which band recorded “Wonderwall”?
Oasis.
Which girl group released “Wannabe”?
Spice Girls.
Which singer released the album Jagged Little Pill in 1995?
Alanis Morissette.
Which band recorded “Iris” for the movie City of Angels?
Goo Goo Dolls.
Which R&B group released the album CrazySexyCool in 1994, featuring “Waterfalls”?
TLC.
Which British band released the album OK Computer in 1997?
Radiohead.
Which band recorded “Losing My Religion”?
R.E.M.
Which R&B group spent 13 straight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992 with “End of the Road”?
Boyz II Men.
What was the title of Whitney Houston’s best-selling soundtrack album, released in 1992?
The Bodyguard.
Who played the teacher in the 1995 music video for Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”?
Michelle Pfeiffer.
Which 90s rapper is known for the single “Ice Ice Baby”?
Vanilla Ice.
Which pop star released the album Daydream in 1995?
Mariah Carey.
Which boy band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995, with members including Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez?
*NSYNC.
Which Michael Jackson album was released in 1991?
Dangerous.
Which R&B singer released the album My Life in 1994, featuring “You Bring Me Joy” and “Be Happy”?
Mary J. Blige.
Who sang the 1996 ballad “Un-Break My Heart,” written by Diane Warren?
Toni Braxton.
Which band released the album The Colour and the Shape in 1997?
Foo Fighters.
Which pop singer released “Genie in a Bottle”?
Christina Aguilera.
Which Swedish group had a 1993 hit with “All That She Wants”?
Ace of Base.
Which rapper’s 1997 single “I’ll Be Missing You,” with Faith Evans and 112, topped the Billboard Hot 100?
Puff Daddy.
Gavin Rossdale is the lead singer of which British rock band, known for “Glycerine”?
Bush.
Who was the vocalist of the grunge band Nirvana?
Kurt Cobain.
Which band released the album The Battle of Los Angeles in 1999?
Rage Against the Machine.
Which singer’s debut single “If You Had My Love” hit No. 1 in 1999?
Jennifer Lopez.
Which Canadian reggae-fusion artist topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993 with “Informer”?
Snow.
Who was known as the “Queen of Tejano Music”?
Selena (Selena Quintanilla).
Which hip-hop group had a 1992 hit with “Jump Around”?
House of Pain.

Rock Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Bands, albums and riffs from the 60s to the 2000s. The first 15 are straight questions; the multiple-choice set after them is for classic-rock fans.

A man in a band T-shirt playing an electric guitar in a garage while friends sit on an old couch and call out guesses

Which band recorded “Stairway to Heaven”?
Led Zeppelin.
Who was the lead singer of Queen?
Freddie Mercury.
Which band released the album The Dark Side of the Moon in 1973?
Pink Floyd.
Which band recorded “Hotel California”?
Eagles.
Which band released the album Back in Black in 1980?
AC/DC.
Which band recorded “Smoke on the Water”?
Deep Purple.
Which band recorded “Sweet Child O’ Mine”?
Guns N’ Roses.
Which British band released the album Abbey Road in 1969?
The Beatles.
Which guitarist is famous for performing “Purple Haze”?
Jimi Hendrix.
Which band recorded “Enter Sandman”?
Metallica.
Which band released the album Tommy in 1969?
The Who.
Which band released the album American Idiot in 2004?
Green Day.
Which band recorded “Seven Nation Army”?
The White Stripes.
Which rock band recorded “Dream On”?
Aerosmith.
Which musician drummed for Nirvana and later founded the Foo Fighters?
Dave Grohl.

Classic Rock Multiple-Choice Questions

Read the options out loud and have everyone pick a letter before you reveal the answer.

Blind Faith was made up of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and one more musician on bass. Who was it? A) Trevor Bolder. B) Ric Grech. C) Clive Chaman. D) John Glascock.
B) Ric Grech. He came from the British progressive rock band Family.
Major Tom is the hero of David Bowie’s 1969 single “Space Oddity.” In which Bowie song does he return? A) “Fame.” B) “Let’s Dance.” C) “Ashes to Ashes.” D) “Heroes.”
C) “Ashes to Ashes,” from the 1980 album Scary Monsters.
Which 1970s album cover was conceived by pop artist Andy Warhol? A) Dark Side of the Moon. B) Aladdin Sane. C) Sticky Fingers. D) Imagine.
C) Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones, which originally came with a working zipper on the sleeve.
Which of these tracks fills an entire album side and runs longest? A) “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” Iron Butterfly. B) “Echoes,” Pink Floyd. C) “Close to the Edge,” Yes. D) “Supper’s Ready,” Genesis.
B) “Echoes,” the closing track of Meddle, at about 23 and a half minutes.
Which lead guitarist was never a member of The Yardbirds? A) Jeff Beck. B) Peter Green. C) Eric Clapton. D) Jimmy Page.
B) Peter Green. He played with John Mayall and formed Fleetwood Mac in 1967.
Neil Young was in Nashville in 1971 to tape The Johnny Cash Show, and then recorded with two other guests from the show. Which woman sings harmony on “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man”? A) Bonnie Raitt. B) Linda Ronstadt. C) Joni Mitchell. D) Carly Simon.
B) Linda Ronstadt. James Taylor, the other guest, also sang on the sessions.
Which Van Morrison single charted higher on the US Top 40 than “Brown Eyed Girl,” which reached No. 10? A) “Moondance.” B) “Tupelo Honey.” C) “Domino.” D) “Wild Night.”
C) “Domino,” a 1970 single that reached No. 9 in early 1971.
Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits played guitar on which Steely Dan single? A) “Peg.” B) “Time Out of Mind.” C) “FM.” D) “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.”
B) “Time Out of Mind.”
Of these songs Ringo Starr sang with The Beatles, which one did he write himself? A) “Yellow Submarine.” B) “Act Naturally.” C) “Good Night.” D) “Octopus’s Garden.”
D) “Octopus’s Garden,” from Abbey Road.
Which Paul Simon album started out as a planned Simon and Garfunkel reunion record? A) Still Crazy After All These Years. B) Hearts and Bones. C) You’re the One. D) The Rhythm of the Saints.
B) Hearts and Bones (1983). Simon erased Art Garfunkel’s parts and released it as a solo album.
Who was Barbra Streisand’s first choice to star opposite her in A Star Is Born (1976)? A) Neil Diamond. B) Elvis Presley. C) Rick Nelson. D) Jerry Lee Lewis.
B) Elvis Presley. Kris Kristofferson got the role.
Which Rod Stewart song from the album A Night on the Town topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976? A) “Maggie May.” B) “Hot Legs.” C) “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright).” D) “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?”
C) “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright).”
Which of these songs does NOT feature a mandolin? A) “Losing My Religion,” R.E.M. B) “The Battle of Evermore,” Led Zeppelin. C) “Wild Horses,” The Rolling Stones. D) “Friend of the Devil,” the Grateful Dead.
C) “Wild Horses.” Peter Buck plays mandolin on “Losing My Religion,” John Paul Jones on “The Battle of Evermore” and David Grisman on “Friend of the Devil.”

Country Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Country legends, big singles and award-winning albums.

Friends on a back porch at sunset with an acoustic guitar and a cooler, one reading a country trivia question from a phone

Who is known as the “Queen of Country Music”?
Dolly Parton.
Who sang “Friends in Low Places,” the 1990 single from the album No Fences?
Garth Brooks.
Who recorded “Ring of Fire” in 1963, a song written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore?
Johnny Cash.
Which singer released “Before He Cheats,” a 2006 single from the album Some Hearts?
Carrie Underwood.
Which singer had a hit with “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”?
Shania Twain.
Which singer is known for “Take Me Home, Country Roads”?
John Denver.
Which group, now called Lady A, sang “Need You Now”?
Lady Antebellum.
Whose 2015 debut album Traveller includes a cover of “Tennessee Whiskey”?
Chris Stapleton.
Which singer is known for the song “The Gambler”?
Kenny Rogers.
Which Dolly Parton song begs another woman not to take her man?
“Jolene.”
Which singer’s album Golden Hour won Album of the Year at the Grammys held in 2019?
Kacey Musgraves.
Which country star released Stardust, an album of pop standards, in 1978?
Willie Nelson.
Which country legend received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize special citation in 2010?
Hank Williams.
What did Willie Nelson sell door to door, along with vacuum cleaners, while he took a break from music?
Bibles.

Rap and Hip-Hop Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Classic albums, Grammy history and a few names behind the artists.

Friends at a house party around a laptop playing music, one pointing at the screen and laughing, vinyl records on a shelf behind

Which hip-hop artist released the album Illmatic in 1994?
Nas.
Which rapper released the album The Chronic in 1992?
Dr. Dre.
Which rapper released the album All Eyez on Me in 1996?
Tupac Shakur.
Which rapper released The Slim Shady LP in 1999?
Eminem.
Which artist released the album To Pimp a Butterfly in 2015?
Kendrick Lamar.
Which rap group released the album The Low End Theory in 1991?
A Tribe Called Quest.
Which group released Fear of a Black Planet in 1990, featuring “Fight the Power”?
Public Enemy.
Which hip-hop group released Black Sunday in 1993, featuring “Insane in the Brain”?
Cypress Hill.
Which album won Lauryn Hill Album of the Year at the 1999 Grammys, one of five awards she took home that night?
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Which rapper has a featured verse on Justin Bieber’s “Baby”?
Ludacris.
What is Snoop Dogg’s real name?
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.
Where were The Notorious B.I.G.’s parents born?
Jamaica.
Which 1979 single by the Sugarhill Gang was built on a replayed version of the bassline from Chic’s “Good Times”?
“Rapper’s Delight.”
What was the title of Tupac Shakur’s debut studio album, released in 1991?
2Pacalypse Now.

Finish the Lyrics Quiz With Answers

Read the line aloud, stop at the blank and let the room shout the missing words. Each blank is sized to the missing words (one ___ per word), and each answer also names the song and the artist, so you can ask for those as a bonus point. Adele’s songs open the list.

Four friends in a living room singing together, one holding a phone as a lyric prompt, mid-laugh

Hello from the other ___
side. From “Hello” by Adele.
I’ve forgiven it all, you ___ ___ ___
set me free. From “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” by Adele.
From the way you talk to the ___ ___ ___
way you move. From “When We Were Young” by Adele.
I can’t help myself from ___ ___ ___
looking for you. From “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele.
Go ahead and sell me out and I’ll ___ ___ ___
lay your ship bare. From “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele.
Feel the Earth move and then hear my ___ ___ ___
heart burst again. From “Skyfall” by Adele.
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it ___ ___
hurts instead. From “Someone Like You” by Adele.
Is this the real life? Is this just ___?
fantasy. From “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
Take a sad song and ___ ___ ___
make it better. From “Hey Jude” by The Beatles.
Let it go, can’t hold it back ___
anymore. From “Let It Go” by Idina Menzel, in Frozen.
Good times never seemed so ___
good. From “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond.
And I-I-I will always love ___
you. From “I Will Always Love You,” written by Dolly Parton and made a hit by Whitney Houston.
Imagine all the people living life in ___
peace. From “Imagine” by John Lennon.
Don’t believe me, just ___
watch. From “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.
I bless the rains down in ___
Africa. From “Africa” by Toto.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ ___
alive. From “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.
Clap along if you feel like a room without a ___
roof. From “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.
I’m in love with the ___ of you
shape. From “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran.
We will, we will ___ you
rock. From “We Will Rock You” by Queen.
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your ___
life. From “Dancing Queen” by ABBA.
Almost heaven, ___ Virginia
West. From “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver.

To build your own round, pick songs everyone knows and stop the line right before the last word or two of the hook. For a team version, teams write the missing words on paper and swap sheets to score.

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Hard Music Trivia Questions and Answers for Adults

Save these for the final round. They cover landmark albums, classical composers and a few deep cuts.

Which artist released the concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972?
David Bowie.
Which guitarist played the famous solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”?
Eddie Van Halen.
Which producer is often called the “Fifth Beatle” for his work with the band?
George Martin.
Which band recorded the progressive rock album Close to the Edge in 1972?
Yes.
Which singer-songwriter wrote and first recorded “Hallelujah”?
Leonard Cohen.
Which artist released the album Blonde on Blonde in 1966?
Bob Dylan.
Which singer-songwriter released Grace in 1994, the only studio album finished in his lifetime?
Jeff Buckley.
Which band released the album Exile on Main St. in 1972?
The Rolling Stones.
Which singer released the soul album What’s Going On in 1971?
Marvin Gaye.
Which band released the album London Calling in 1979?
The Clash.
Which artist released the album Songs in the Key of Life in 1976?
Stevie Wonder.
Which band released the concept album The Wall in 1979?
Pink Floyd.
Which band released the album Kid A in 2000?
Radiohead.
Which 1975 Queen album includes “Bohemian Rhapsody”?
A Night at the Opera.
Which composer wrote the opera The Marriage of Figaro?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Which composer wrote the violin concertos known as The Four Seasons?
Antonio Vivaldi.

AI QuizMake a music quiz on any topic

Type a topic such as “90s hip-hop” or “classic rock” in AI Quiz mode, and everyone answers on their own phone.

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Music Facts and Artist Stories

Stage names, records, firsts and behind-the-scenes trivia for the know-it-alls.

What was the original name of the punk band Green Day?
Sweet Children, before they became Green Day in 1989.
Who was the first lead singer of AC/DC, before Bon Scott?
Dave Evans.
Which band wrote and performed the South Park theme song?
Primus.
Which Korean artist’s video was the first on YouTube to reach one billion views?
Psy, with “Gangnam Style.”
Which artist holds the Guinness World Record for the first live concert broadcast to space, in 2005?
Paul McCartney, who played for the crew of the International Space Station from a stage in Anaheim, California.
Bono’s stage name comes from “Bonavox.” What kind of shop in Dublin was that?
A hearing-aid shop. The name is a twist on the Latin for “good voice.”
Which Queen song inspired the name Lady Gaga?
“Radio Ga Ga.”
What is Elton John’s birth name?
Reginald Kenneth Dwight.
What is the real name of B-Real, the rapper from Cypress Hill?
Louis Freese.
Before his solo career, Peter Gabriel was the lead singer of which band?
Genesis.
Which song was the first music video MTV aired, at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981?
“Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
Which songwriter and producer is behind “...Baby One More Time” and “I Want It That Way”?
Max Martin.
Which French electronic duo is made up of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo?
Daft Punk.
Which 1984 single by “Weird Al” Yankovic parodies a Michael Jackson hit?
“Eat It.”
Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, played bass in which 1980s indie band?
The Housemartins.
Which Canadian band performs the theme song of The Big Bang Theory?
Barenaked Ladies.
Which Billy Joel album was among the first CDs on sale, released in Japan on October 1, 1982?
52nd Street.
Which compilation is the best-selling album in US history, according to the RIAA?
Eagles, Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975.
Which songwriter wrote both “Make You Feel My Love,” a hit for Adele, and “All Along the Watchtower,” covered by Jimi Hendrix?
Bob Dylan.
Which producer teamed up with Dua Lipa on “One Kiss,” which won British Single at the 2019 Brit Awards?
Calvin Harris.
Which singer swept the four major Grammy categories in 2020, becoming the youngest artist to do it?
Billie Eilish.
Which brother of Billie Eilish co-writes and produces her music and won Producer of the Year, Non-Classical in 2020?
Finneas O’Connell.
Whose 1958 rock version of “La Bamba” gave the Mexican folk song a rock rhythm?
Ritchie Valens.
Which Pittsburgh band had a 1976 No. 1 with “Play That Funky Music”?
Wild Cherry. The song hit No. 1 about two months after the band recorded it.
What is Cat Stevens’s birth name, before he became Yusuf Islam?
Steven Demetre Georgiou.
Which band’s drummer, Rick Allen, kept playing after losing his left arm in a 1984 car crash?
Def Leppard.
Which Italian composer won his first competitive Oscar in 2016 for the score of The Hateful Eight?
Ennio Morricone.
Which 1962 Quincy Jones track became the theme of the Austin Powers films?
“Soul Bossa Nova.”
Which artist was the first signed to Richard Branson’s Virgin Records, with Tubular Bells as the label’s first release?
Mike Oldfield.
Which pop-punk band performed the theme songs for Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Phineas and Ferb?
Bowling for Soup.
Who founded the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails in 1988?
Trent Reznor.
Which rapper founded the entertainment company Roc Nation in 2008?
Jay-Z.
Which hip-hop group’s original nine members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Ol’ Dirty Bastard?
Wu-Tang Clan.
Which Motown prodigy, born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, was billed as “Little Stevie Wonder” in the early 1960s?
Stevie Wonder.
Which singer-songwriter was signed to the Beatles’ Apple Records after Peter Asher passed his demos to Paul McCartney and George Harrison?
James Taylor.
Which guitarist did Mick Fleetwood invite to join Fleetwood Mac after hearing him at Sound City, on the condition that Stevie Nicks come along too?
Lindsey Buckingham.
David Jones changed his name to David Bowie. Which other singer named Davy Jones, from The Monkees, had made the old name unusable?
Davy Jones of The Monkees.
Which musician joined the Spencer Davis Group as a teenager and co-wrote “Gimme Some Lovin’” before forming Traffic and joining Blind Faith?
Steve Winwood.
Which rocker threatened to name his 1981 album $8.98 to protest MCA’s plan to price it at $9.98?
Tom Petty, whose album became Hard Promises.
Which band first played under the names The Detours and, briefly, The High Numbers?
The Who.
Which band’s “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,” recorded as a throwaway B-side, hit No. 1 in December 1969?
Steam.

Family Music Trivia Questions for Kids and Adults

Easy questions about songs, instruments, movie music and music legends, so kids and grown-ups can play on the same team. Start with the first few so every child scores a point early.

Parents and two kids on the living room floor with a small keyboard and a ukulele, the kids raising hands to answer a music question

Songs, Instruments and Music Basics

What do you learn when you sing “The ABC Song”?
The alphabet.
The tune of “The ABC Song” matches which lullaby?
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
In the song “Baby Shark,” name any other member of the shark family.
Mommy Shark, Daddy Shark, Grandma Shark or Grandpa Shark.
In “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed,” what do the monkeys do that causes trouble?
They fall off the bed and bump their heads.
In “The Wheels on the Bus,” what goes “swish, swish, swish”?
The wipers on the bus.
In the nursery song “Bingo,” what kind of animal is Bingo?
A dog.
How many keys does a standard piano have?
88.
Which small instrument looks like a tiny guitar and usually has four strings?
The ukulele.
Which instrument do you hold under your chin and play with a bow?
The violin.
How many strings does a standard violin have?
Four.
Which wind instrument do kids connect with Scotland?
The bagpipes.
Which church instrument with many pipes is nicknamed the “king of instruments”?
The pipe organ.
What do you call a song that has only music and no words?
Instrumental.
What do you call singing without any instruments?
A cappella.
What do you call the speed of a song, how fast or slow it feels?
The tempo.
What does the Italian word “forte” tell a musician to do?
Play loudly.
What do you call the highest female singing voice?
Soprano.
What do you call the five lines that music notes sit on?
The staff.
What is the symbol at the start of the staff that tells you which notes are which?
A clef.
What do you call a group of singers who perform together, often at school or in church?
A choir.
What do you call a large group of musicians who play classical instruments together?
An orchestra.
What do you call the person who stands in front of an orchestra and leads the musicians?
The conductor.
In most songs, which part usually repeats and feels catchiest: the verse or the chorus?
The chorus.
When a song keeps looping in your head all day, what is it called?
An earworm.
Which of these is a percussion instrument? A) Trumpet. B) Flute. C) Drum. D) Violin.
C) Drum.
Which of these artists plays the flute and includes it in pop performances? A) Lizzo. B) Ed Sheeran. C) Bruno Mars. D) Taylor Swift.
A) Lizzo.
What instrument has six strings and is played by strumming or plucking?
The guitar.
Which wind instrument do you play by blowing across a hole?
The flute.
Which brass instrument has valves you press to change the notes?
The trumpet.
Which percussion instrument is shaped like a metal triangle and played with a small metal beater?
The triangle.
Which large stringed instrument stands on the floor and is played by plucking the strings with your fingers?
The harp.
Which brass instrument makes the deepest sound in the orchestra?
The tuba.
What do you call an electronic keyboard that can imitate many different sounds?
A synthesizer.
What do we call the words of a song?
The lyrics.
What do we call the tune of a song?
The melody.
Which instrument has black and white keys that you press with your fingers?
The piano.
Which instrument usually plays the highest notes in this list? A) Tuba. B) Violin. C) Drum set. D) Double bass.
B) Violin.

Pop Stars, Movies and Disney Music

Which singer and actress played Hannah Montana on TV?
Miley Cyrus.
What are the names of the three Jonas Brothers?
Nick, Joe and Kevin.
Who sings “Firework”?
Katy Perry.
Which reggae legend sang “Three Little Birds”?
Bob Marley.
Which movie features the upbeat song “Everything Is AWESOME!!!”?
The LEGO Movie.
Which movie musical includes the song “A Spoonful of Sugar”?
Mary Poppins.
Which animated film series includes the snowman Olaf?
Frozen.
Which 2024 Pixar sequel uses big emotional music to explore feelings inside a child’s mind?
Inside Out 2.
Which Disney song from The Lion King means “no worries”?
“Hakuna Matata.”
In The Little Mermaid, which character sings “Under the Sea”?
Sebastian the crab.
Which candelabra character sings “Be Our Guest” in Beauty and the Beast?
Lumiere.
Which Disney film features the song “The Bare Necessities”?
The Jungle Book.
Which Disney film features the song “How Far I’ll Go”?
Moana.
Which music legend is nicknamed “The King of Rock and Roll”?
Elvis Presley.
Which singer is nicknamed “The Boss”?
Bruce Springsteen.
Which country singer was known as “The Man in Black”?
Johnny Cash.
Which singer had a 1979 No. 1 hit with “I Will Survive”?
Gloria Gaynor.
What is ABBA’s only No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100?
“Dancing Queen.”
How many No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 has Mariah Carey had, the most of any solo artist?
19.
Which Beatle is barefoot on the cover of Abbey Road?
Paul McCartney.
Which Disney song from Aladdin invites you on a magic carpet ride?
“A Whole New World.”
Which Toy Story song says “You’ve got a friend in me”?
“You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
Which villain from The Little Mermaid sings “Poor Unfortunate Souls”?
Ursula.
Which movie features the dwarfs singing “Heigh-Ho”?
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Which Disney character wishes upon a star?
Pinocchio.
Which villain from The Princess and the Frog sings “Friends on the Other Side”?
Dr. Facilier.
Which film about the band Queen, released in 2018, helped a new generation discover “Bohemian Rhapsody”?
Bohemian Rhapsody.
Which singer is known as the “King of Pop”?
Michael Jackson.
Trick question: what did Michael Jackson moonwalk with?
His shoes.
Janis Joplin’s version of which song reached No. 1 after her death in 1970?
“Me and Bobby McGee.”
Who sings “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” from the movie Trolls?
Justin Timberlake.
Which singer is known for “Watermelon Sugar”?
Harry Styles.
Which group sang “Barbie Girl”?
Aqua.
Which singer is known for “Stitches”?
Shawn Mendes.
Who sings “Roar”?
Katy Perry.
Which singer fronted the band No Doubt before going solo?
Gwen Stefani.
Which singer performed “This Is Me” in the movie Camp Rock?
Demi Lovato.
Who had a hit with “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”?
Silento.
Which band of three brothers had a hit with “MMMBop”?
Hanson.
What does NKOTB stand for?
New Kids on the Block.
How many members does BTS have?
Seven.
Which Jonas Brother had a hit with “Jealous”?
Nick Jonas.
Which singer is known as the “Queen of Soul”?
Aretha Franklin.
The Tony Awards honor achievements in which kind of live entertainment?
Broadway theater, including musicals.
At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, which rapper interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech?
Kanye West.
What is the name of Kanye West’s clothing and sneaker line?
Yeezy.
Which Spice Girl was nicknamed Sporty Spice?
Melanie C (Melanie Chisholm).

Ask each kid for a favorite artist before you start, then slip in at least one question about that artist so the quiz feels like theirs. Clap, stomp or act out a short motion from a song before you read the next question to keep younger kids engaged. For instrument questions, show a quick picture on a phone or tablet, or play a few seconds of a drum, flute or violin and ask which instrument they hear. For multiple choice, have players hold up 1, 2, 3 or 4 fingers instead of shouting. A trick question or two keeps kids alert, and you can adjust the boy band and modern-pop questions to the age of your players.

A good order for a family night: start with 5 to 10 easy kids’ song questions, move into 10 to 15 pop and movie-music questions, add a short instrument round, and finish with a 5-question lightning round where everyone answers as a team. Plan about 25 to 30 questions for an hour. If you want to run a Family Feud style round afterward, see our Family Feud game guide.

How to Host a Music Trivia Night

A host at a living room table with a Bluetooth speaker and a scoresheet, guests in two teams leaning in to hear the next song

Pick a theme. Go for a decade like the 90s and 2000s, a genre like K-pop or jazz, a generational showdown with teams split by age group, or a mix of everything. Songs that are too obscure lose the room, and songs that are too easy leave no competition. Aim for ones people know but can’t quite place. Ask a few of the people who will attend which categories they like, and remember that a decade round can miss with the wrong crowd: skip an 80s round for mostly older players and a 50s round for millennials.

Mix the round types. Try finish-the-lyrics, name the artist, backing bands and song titles. Text-only rounds work in a venue with no sound system. For a themed round, try numbers in songs, girls’ names in 80s songs, song intros, one-name artists, movie themes and scores, drinking songs, songs about sports, or songs played backwards. You can also build a 1950s round around Elvis, “Tutti Frutti” and “Rockin’ Robin,” or pick a genre such as classical, Broadway or holiday music. At home, 5 to 7 rounds of 10 songs fills 60 to 90 minutes, and anything longer starts to drag.

Keep the rules simple. For name-that-tune rounds, play 10 to 15 seconds of each song and give the point to the first person who shouts the right artist or title. You can add bonus rounds, such as naming the year or the album. Ties go to the louder player, since confidence should be rewarded. Keep phones away so it stays a test of memory and bragging rights.

Solo or teams. Solo play suits 4 to 8 people. For 10 or more, split into teams of 2 to 4 so one walking encyclopedia can’t dominate.

Pick your tool. You have three main options. Build a playlist in Spotify or YouTube and skip through it yourself: it is free and gives you full control, but you play the songs, pause, reveal answers and keep score. Or play a pre-made music quiz video on YouTube and press play. Or use an app that plays the clips and keeps score for you, which is where Name That Tune fits.

Set up the room. You need a decent speaker, since a phone speaker won’t cut it, so borrow a Bluetooth speaker if you have to. A screen everyone can see is optional but fun, because people love seeing album covers. Connect your music before guests arrive, and put out snacks and drinks. Use multiple-choice questions to keep things moving, assign points to correct answers and add a fun fact after each one.

Bring the energy. Someone has to host, keep score and hype people up. Playfully tease wrong answers, celebrate wild guesses and encourage friendly trash talk. Celebrate a hard right answer with a bell or an air horn, and make it feel like a game show. When the quiz ends, keep the playlist going and let people hang out.

Play it online. For a video call, see our quiz games for groups on Zoom. If you want trivia beyond music, our general knowledge quiz has more rounds, and the game night ideas list covers what to play between rounds. To run the song rounds in one room, open Name That Tune from the button below.

Music nightRun the music round without a playlist

Pick song categories like Pop, Rock / Classic, Rap or 80s–2000s, and the game plays the clips and keeps score.

Open Name That Tune

Music Trivia FAQ

What are some good music trivia questions?

Good questions cover popular songs, famous artists and memorable albums. Examples: Who is known as the Queen of Pop? Madonna. Who sang “Billie Jean”? Michael Jackson. Which band released the album Nevermind? Nirvana.

What are some cool facts about music?

The Woodstock festival in 1969 became one of the most iconic events in music history. Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the best-selling album of all time worldwide. The Beatles hold the record for the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, with 20.

What are the main music trivia categories?

Popular categories include classic rock, pop, rock, country, 80s music, 90s music and music history. This page covers pop, the 80s, the 90s, rock, country, rap and hip-hop, lyrics, hard questions, music facts and a family round.

How many music trivia questions do I need?

For a one-hour kids’ session, plan about 25 to 30 questions. For a party music quiz, plan 60 to 90 minutes: 5 to 7 rounds of 10 songs is about right, and anything longer starts to drag.

How do you play finish the lyrics?

One person reads a line and stops before the last word or two. Players say or write the missing words. Score a point for each right answer, with a bonus for naming the song and the artist.

Music Trivia Questions and Answers: Finish the Lyrics, 80s, 90s and Rock Music Quiz