The short answer: here are 50 music trivia questions with answers, in five rounds of ten.
- Rounds: pop and rock, Motown and soul, music basics
- Also: holiday songs and movie soundtracks
- Answers are in bold after each question
- Scoring: holiday songs count 2 points each
- Next step: Plan it with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99).
Our picks for music trivia
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Here are 50 music trivia questions with answers, grouped into five rounds of ten: pop and rock classics, Motown and soul, music basics, holiday songs and movie soundtracks. Answers are in bold right after each question. Use them for a family game night, a holiday party or a road trip.
Hosting a game night soon? The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) keeps the snack menu and shopping list on one page. The Holiday Season Bundle is $15.99, regularly $25.94 for its six planners bought separately, and the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) tracks prizes and gifts.
How to host music trivia night
- Split players into teams of three to five.
- Read ten questions per round and give teams 30 seconds each.
- Teams write answers on paper and swap sheets for scoring.
- Add a name-that-tune bonus round with short song clips.
- Use a number question as a tiebreaker.
The questions below stick to facts that do not change, so you will not be caught out by a new chart record. For more classic picks, the Library of Congress National Recording Registry lists recordings chosen for their cultural and historical importance.
Pop and rock classics music trivia (10)
- Which band was made up of John, Paul, George and Ringo? The Beatles
- Which English city were the Beatles from? Liverpool
- Who is known as the King of Rock and Roll? Elvis Presley
- Who is known as the King of Pop? Michael Jackson
- Which 1982 Michael Jackson album includes "Billie Jean" and "Beat It"? Thriller
- Which band recorded "Bohemian Rhapsody"? Queen
- Which artist starred in and sang the soundtrack for "Purple Rain"? Prince
- Mick Jagger is the lead singer of which band? The Rolling Stones
- Which 1969 music festival took place on a farm in Bethel, New York? Woodstock
- Who wrote "I Will Always Love You," later a huge hit for Whitney Houston? Dolly Parton
Motown and soul music trivia (10)
HomeBase founder Malaysia is Detroit-born, so Motown gets its own round.
- In what city was Motown founded? Detroit
- Who founded Motown? Berry Gordy
- In what year did Berry Gordy start the label that became Motown? 1959
- What was Motown's first headquarters nicknamed? Hitsville U.S.A.
- Which Motown group sang "My Girl"? The Temptations
- Diana Ross sang lead for which Motown group? The Supremes
- Which family group included a young Michael Jackson? The Jackson 5
- Who recorded the album "What's Going On"? Marvin Gaye
- Who recorded "Superstition"? Stevie Wonder
- Who is known as the Queen of Soul? Aretha Franklin
Music basics trivia (10)
- How many keys are on a standard piano? 88
- How many strings does a standard guitar have? Six
- How many strings does a violin have? Four
- How many lines are on a musical staff? Five
- What does "forte" mean in music? Loud
- What is the word for the speed of a piece of music? Tempo
- Which instrument family includes the trumpet and trombone? Brass
- Which instrument is named after its inventor, Adolphe Sax? The saxophone
- What do you call a group of four musicians? A quartet
- Which composer kept writing music after losing his hearing, including his Ninth Symphony? Ludwig van Beethoven
Holiday songs music trivia (10)
Carols started as festive songs and later became tied to Christmas, as Britannica's history of the carol explains. For a full playlist, see our Christmas songs list.
- Which song begins "Dashing through the snow"? "Jingle Bells"
- Who released "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in 1994? Mariah Carey
- Which singer introduced "White Christmas" in the movie "Holiday Inn"? Bing Crosby
- What gift arrives on the first day of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"? A partridge in a pear tree
- Who sang "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" as a teenager? Brenda Lee
- Who recorded the original "Jingle Bell Rock"? Bobby Helms
- Who wrote and sang "Feliz Navidad"? José Feliciano
- In which country was "Silent Night" first performed? Austria
- Which song asks for "my two front teeth"? "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"
- Which reindeer had a very shiny nose? Rudolph
Movie soundtrack music trivia (10)
- Which Disney movie features the song "Let It Go"? Frozen
- Who sang "My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic"? Celine Dion
- Which movie introduced the song "Over the Rainbow"? The Wizard of Oz
- Which "Rocky" movie featured "Eye of the Tiger"? Rocky III
- Who created the musical "Hamilton"? Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Which Disney movie features "Hakuna Matata"? The Lion King
- Which movie musical features the song "Summer Nights"? Grease
- In "The Sound of Music," which song starts "Let's start at the very beginning"? "Do-Re-Mi"
- Which Disney movie features "Under the Sea"? The Little Mermaid
- Which 1966 animated holiday special features the song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"? How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Music trivia scoring table
| Round | Questions | Points each | Round total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pop and rock classics | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Motown and soul | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Music basics | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Holiday songs | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Movie soundtracks | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Name-that-tune bonus | Any | 1 title, 1 artist | Bonus |
Tips for a fun music trivia game
- Mix eras so every generation gets questions they know.
- Accept close answers on song titles.
- Keep song clips to five to ten seconds for name-that-tune.
- Play background music between rounds to keep energy up.
For more rounds, add our sports trivia, Christmas trivia or Thanksgiving trivia, or plan a full Christmas movie night.
Plan game night with printables
- Meal Planner & Grocery List: $3.99 for the snack menu and shopping list.
- Holiday Season Bundle: $15.99, regularly $25.94 for its six planners bought separately.
- Christmas Budget & Gift Planner: $4.99 for prizes, gifts and a budget per person.
- Browse all printables or save with bundles.
Holiday Season Bundle
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$15.99 $25.94 · Instant download. Print at home or fill it in on screen. Or browse the full Holidays collection.
Frequently asked questions
What are good music trivia questions? Good music trivia questions have one clear answer and cover songs most of the group knows. Examples: Who is called the King of Pop? (Michael Jackson) How many keys are on a standard piano? (88) In what city was Motown founded? (Detroit.)
What are easy music trivia questions? Easy music trivia questions ask about famous songs and basic facts, like how many strings a standard guitar has (six) or which song begins "Dashing through the snow" ("Jingle Bells"). Start with an easy round so everyone scores early.
How do you host a music trivia night? The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) keeps the party snacks and shopping list on one page, so a music trivia night is easy to set up. Split guests into teams, play five rounds of ten questions and add a name-that-tune bonus with short song clips.
What is a name that tune round? A name that tune round plays the first few seconds of a song, and teams race to name the title and artist. Give one point for the title, one for the artist and a bonus for naming the year.
Are these music trivia questions good for kids? Many of the music basics, holiday and movie soundtrack questions work well for kids. Pair kids with adults for the pop and Motown rounds, since those cover songs from earlier decades.
Can I use music trivia at a Christmas party? The Holiday Season Bundle ($15.99) plans the menu, gifts and budget for the season, so a Christmas party with games is easier to pull off. The holiday songs round fits right in, and you can pair it with a Christmas songs playlist.
What is the National Recording Registry? The National Recording Registry is a Library of Congress list of sound recordings chosen for their cultural, historical or artistic importance. Browsing it is a fun way to find questions about classic songs and albums.
Where did Christmas carols come from? Carols began as songs of joy sung at festivals and later became tied to Christmas, as Britannica explains. Many well-known carols, like "Silent Night," were written in the 1800s.
How many music trivia questions do I need? Plan on 40 to 60 questions for a one to two hour music trivia night. Five rounds of ten questions plus a few tiebreakers is a good target.
What prizes work for a music trivia game? The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) helps you set a prize budget and track what you spend, so small prizes stay affordable. Candy, a song request pass or a small gift card all work well as prizes.
Should music trivia use the most recent hits? Mix eras so every age group has a chance, and avoid questions about records or chart totals that can change. Facts like who founded Motown or what year a classic album came out stay true, so your questions will not go out of date.
What is a good music trivia tiebreaker? A good tiebreaker has a number answer, so the closest guess wins. Try "How many keys are on a standard piano?" The answer is 88.
What music trivia categories work best? The best music trivia categories mix eras and styles: classic pop and rock, soul, music basics, holiday songs and movie soundtracks. Mixing categories lets different guests shine in different rounds.
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Thanksgiving trivia for the whole family
50 questions in 5 rounds, 20 kids' questions and an answer key. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with simple holiday planning, budgeting and hosting tips.
Sources
- Library of Congress: National Recording Registry loc.gov
- Britannica: Carol britannica.com