Harp Quiz With Answers: Test Your Knowledge

The harp appears on Ireland's coins, passports and Guinness labels, and this harp quiz with answers explores one of the world's oldest instruments. Learn about ancient harps from Ur in Mesopotamia, the concert pedal harp's 47 strings and seven pedals, red C strings, Celtic lever harps, Paraguayan harps and the harp's shimmering glissando.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Ireland
Which country uses the harp as its national emblem?
Ur
Which ancient city produced famous harps and lyres?
Strings
How many strings does a concert pedal harp usually have?
Pedals
How many pedals does a concert harp have?
Red
Which strings are colored red on most harps?
Lever
What do small Celtic harps use to change key?
Paraguay
Which South American country is famous for its folk harp?
Glissando
What is a glissando on the harp?
Wales
Which British nation has a historic triple harp tradition?
Erard
Who developed the double-action pedal harp?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which country uses the harp as its national emblem?
Answer: Ireland
It appears on coins.
Q2: Which ancient city produced famous harps and lyres?
Answer: Ur
They are about 4,500 years old.
Q3: How many strings does a concert pedal harp usually have?
Answer: 47
It covers six and a half octaves.
Q4: How many pedals does a concert harp have?
Answer: Seven
One for each note name.
Q5: Which strings are colored red on most harps?
Answer: C strings
F strings are often black or blue.
Q6: What do small Celtic harps use to change key?
Answer: Levers
They are portable.
Q7: Which South American country is famous for its folk harp?
Answer: Paraguay
It is its national instrument.
Q8: What is a glissando on the harp?
Answer: Sweeping across strings
It sounds magical.
Q9: Which British nation has a historic triple harp tradition?
Answer: Wales
It has three rows of strings.
Q10: Who developed the double-action pedal harp?
Answer: Sébastien Érard
He patented it in 1810.

Harp Quiz – Strings of the Ages

The harp is one of the oldest instruments, with harps and lyres dating back about 4,500 years to the city of Ur in Mesopotamia. Harps appear in art from ancient Egypt and have been played across many cultures.

The modern concert pedal harp, refined by Sébastien Érard's double-action design in 1810, usually has 47 strings and seven pedals, one for each note name. C strings are colored red to help players find their place, and sweeping glissandos give the harp its magical sound.

Smaller Celtic harps use levers instead of pedals to change key. The harp is Ireland's national emblem, Wales has a historic triple harp tradition and Paraguay's folk harp is its national instrument. Harps appear in orchestras, folk music and film scores.

What This Quiz Teaches

Musicians and history lovers will enjoy these questions.

Which country uses the harp as an emblem
How many strings it has
Which strings are red
What levers do
Who designed the pedal harp

Did You Know?

Harpists pluck with fingertips.
The pinky finger is not used.
Kora is a West African harp-lute.
Harps can weigh about 40 kilograms.
Harpo Marx played the harp.