Beatles Songbook Masterclass Quiz

100 questions · by Qwiz Rush

Beatles Songbook Masterclass Quiz is a free 100-question multiple choice, letters and numbers quiz on Qwiz Rush, made by Qwiz Rush, split into 10 rounds. Test your knowledge on the iconic discography of the Fab Four, from their early Merseybeat hits to their studio masterpieces.

Host it live for friends, family, a class or a quiz night: everyone joins with a game code on their own device, no app needed. Or play it solo with Free Play and see how many you get right.

Every question runs on a 10-second countdown and the fastest correct answers score the most. All the questions and their choices are listed below so you can see what the quiz covers; the answers are revealed in the game. Want to change something? Make your own copy and edit it in your library.

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The 100 questions

Which early Beatles love song features John Lennon playing a prominent harmonica intro and was released as their debut UK single in October 1962?
- Love Me Do
- Please Please Me
- P.S. I Love You
- Ask Me Why
On which Beatles album does the high-energy Merseybeat track 'All My Loving' first appear?
- Please Please Me
- With The Beatles
- A Hard Day's Night
- Beatles for Sale
Which cover song, originally recorded by The Top Notes, served as the explosive, throat-shredding vocal finale to the 'Please Please Me' album?
- Twist and Shout
- Money (That's What I Want)
- Boys
- Baby It's You
Which 1964 ballad features a distinctive acoustic guitar solo played by George Harrison on a nylon-string classical guitar?
- And I Love Her
- If I Fell
- I'll Follow the Sun
- This Boy
Who played the famous piano solo on the 1964 track 'A Hard Day's Night', which was sped up on tape to sound like a harpsichord?
- George Martin
- Brian Epstein
- Billy Preston
- Nicky Hopkins
In the song 'She Loves You', what distinctive vocal harmony interval, inspired by Glenn Miller, did the Beatles use for the final 'yeah' chord?
- A major sixth
- A minor seventh
- A diminished fifth
- A major seventh
In what year did the Beatles make their historic first live television appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing early hits like 'All My Loving' to a record-breaking American audience?

Answer with a number.
How many studio tracks on the Beatles' 14-track debut UK album, 'Please Please Me', were original Lennon-McCartney compositions?

Answer with a number.
Identify the legendary Liverpool music venue where The Beatles were discovered by Brian Epstein in November 1961, which became synonymous with the Merseybeat sound.

Answer with a letter.
Name the German port city where the Beatles honed their live performance skills and developed their energetic style during intense residency gigs between 1960 and 1962.

Answer with a letter.
Which Indian classical instrument did George Harrison play on the Rubber Soul track "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"?
- Sitar
- Sarod
- Tabla
- Tamboura
What studio technique, invented by Ken Townsend at Abbey Road during the Revolver sessions, automatically duplicated a vocal track to create a double-tracked effect?
- Artificial Double Tracking (ADT)
- Backmasking
- Flanging
- Ring Modulation
Who played the baroque-style piano solo on "In My Life", which was recorded at half-speed and sped up to sound like a harpsichord?
- George Martin
- Paul McCartney
- John Lennon
- Nicky Hopkins
Which classical ensemble configuration was used to back Paul McCartney's lead vocals on the Revolver track "Eleanor Rigby"?
- String octet
- Brass quintet
- Woodwind trio
- Chamber orchestra
Who played the blistering, Indian-influenced guitar solo on George Harrison's Revolver track "Taxman"?
- Paul McCartney
- George Harrison
- John Lennon
- Eric Clapton
Recorded during the Revolver sessions, which song was the first Beatles release to feature backwards vocals in its fade-out?
- Rain
- Paperback Writer
- Tomorrow Never Knows
- I'm Only Sleeping
How many tracks are on the standard United Kingdom release of the 1966 album Revolver?

Answer with a number.
How many analog tracks did the tape recorders at Abbey Road Studios have during the recording of Rubber Soul and Revolver?

Answer with a number.
Identify the German bassist and artist, a close friend of the band from their Hamburg days, who designed the iconic line-drawing and collage cover art for the album Revolver.

Answer with a letter.
Identify the brass instrument played by classical musician Alan Civil on the Revolver song "For No One", which features a famously difficult, high-register solo.

Answer with a letter.
Which song on 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' was directly inspired by a 19th-century circus poster purchased by John Lennon in an antique shop?
- Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
- A Day in the Life
- Fixing a Hole
Which classical Indian instrument did George Harrison play on the philosophically psychedelic track 'Within You Without You'?
- Sitar
- Sarod
- Tabla
- Shehnai
Which track on 'Sgt. Pepper' features a 24-bar avant-garde orchestral build-up where musicians were instructed to play from their lowest to highest notes?
- A Day in the Life
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
- Within You Without You
- Good Morning Good Morning
What animal's cry is heard first in the daisy-chain sound-effects sequence at the beginning of 'Good Morning Good Morning'?
- Rooster
- Cat
- Dog
- Horse
Which Dutch design collective was hired to design the psychedelic, brightly colored inner paper sleeve for the original vinyl release of the album?
- The Fool
- Hipgnosis
- Push Pin Studios
- Pentagram
Who played the distinctive, bubbling Lowrey organ introduction that defines the psychedelic atmosphere of 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'?
- Paul McCartney
- John Lennon
- George Martin
- Nicky Hopkins
How many classical musicians made up the studio orchestra assembled to record the dramatic, swelling glissandos in 'A Day in the Life'?

Answer with a number.
In what year was the landmark psychedelic album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' first released?

Answer with a number.
What is the first name of Julian Lennon's nursery school classmate whose drawing inspired the title of the song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'?

Answer with a letter.
What English industrial town in Lancashire is famously mentioned in 'A Day in the Life' as having four thousand holes in its roads?

Answer with a letter.
Which classical piece by Johann Sebastian Bach inspired Paul McCartney's acoustic guitar accompaniment on the song 'Blackbird'?
- Bourrée in E minor
- Cello Suite No. 1
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Who played the drums on the acoustic-driven track 'Dear Prudence' after Ringo Starr temporarily walked out on the band during the recording sessions?
- Paul McCartney
- John Lennon
- George Harrison
- Billy Preston
In what year was the Beatles' self-titled double album (commonly known as 'The White Album') released?

Answer with a number.
What is the first name of John Lennon's late mother, to whom his sole, delicate solo acoustic track on the album is dedicated?

Answer with a letter.
What fingerpicking technique did the Beatles learn from singer-songwriter Donovan while studying meditation in India, which heavily shaped the album's acoustic songs?
- Travis picking
- Clawhammer
- Flatpicking
- Flamenco strumming
What is the name of the rival who steals Rocky's girl in the western-themed acoustic ballad 'Rocky Raccoon'?

Answer with a letter.
Instead of a traditional bass guitar, how did Paul McCartney record the bassline for his acoustic love song 'I Will'?
- He sang the bass notes vocally
- He used a synthesizer
- He played it on a cello
- He detuned an acoustic guitar
How many members of the Beatles actually perform on the final master recording of the acoustic track 'Blackbird'?

Answer with a number.
Which artist sang a brief co-lead vocal line on 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill', marking the only time a female co-lead vocal appeared on a Beatles track?
- Yoko Ono
- Linda McCartney
- Pattie Boyd
- Marianne Faithfull
The uncredited acoustic outro segment attached to the end of 'Cry Baby Cry', beginning with the lyrics 'Can you take me back...', was written and performed by which Beatle?
- Paul McCartney
- John Lennon
- George Harrison
- Ringo Starr
Which member of the Beatles wrote and sang lead vocals on the Abbey Road masterpieces "Here Comes the Sun" and "Something"?
- George Harrison
- John Lennon
- Paul McCartney
- Ringo Starr
What innovative electronic instrument did George Harrison prominently introduce to the band's sound on Abbey Road tracks like "Because" and "Here Comes the Sun"?
- Moog synthesizer
- Mellotron
- Theremin
- Clavinet
How many individual song segments make up the famous Abbey Road Side Two medley, starting with "You Never Give Me Your Money" and ending with "Her Majesty"?

Answer with a number.
Which song on Abbey Road features the only drum solo ever officially recorded by Ringo Starr during his tenure with the Beatles?
- The End
- Carry That Weight
- Octopus's Garden
- Come Together
Identify the first name of the Beatles' drummer who wrote and sang lead vocals on the aquatic-themed track "Octopus's Garden".

Answer with a letter.
Which Abbey Road track features a lush, nine-part vocal harmony inspired by John Lennon hearing Yoko Ono play Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano?
- Because
- Sun King
- Golden Slumbers
- Something
In what calendar year was the Abbey Road album officially released to the public?

Answer with a number.
On the iconic Abbey Road album cover, which member of the band is famously depicted walking across the zebra crossing completely barefoot?
- Paul McCartney
- John Lennon
- George Harrison
- Ringo Starr
Identify the first name of the fictional, silver-hammer-wielding medical student who is the subject of the album's third track.

Answer with a letter.
What is the name of the 23-second hidden track that appears at the very end of the album, following a period of silence after "The End"?
- Her Majesty
- Maggie Mae
- Wild Honey Pie
- You Know My Name
Which Beatles song, credited to Lennon-McCartney, was actually written primarily by Paul McCartney as a tribute to his late mother, Mary?
- Let It Be
- Yesterday
- Hey Jude
- Lady Madonna
Although credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership, which 1967 psychedelic track was written entirely by John Lennon, inspired by a nursery school drawing by his son Julian?
- Strawberry Fields Forever
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
- A Day in the Life
- I Am the Walrus
Which of these songs was the first Lennon-McCartney composition to be released as a single by another artist, specifically Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas?
- Do You Want to Know a Secret
- Bad to Me
- I'll Keep You Satisfied
- From Me to You
Which song on Abbey Road is a McCartney composition that features a famous three-way guitar solo trade-off between McCartney, Harrison, and Lennon?
- The End
- Carry That Weight
- Golden Slumbers
- You Never Give Me Your Money
Which McCartney-penned song from the 1968 self-titled double album was written as a parody of the Beach Boys' style and Chuck Berry's 'Back in the U.S.A.'?
- Back in the U.S.S.R.
- Helter Skelter
- Rocky Raccoon
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Which song, credited to Lennon-McCartney, was written by John Lennon as a passionate love song to Yoko Ono and was released as the B-side to 'Get Back'?
- Don't Let Me Down
- Across the Universe
- The Ballad of John and Yoko
- I Want You (She's So Heavy)
In what year did John Lennon and Paul McCartney first meet at the Woolton Village Fete, laying the groundwork for their legendary songwriting partnership?

Answer with a number.
How many songs on the Beatles' 1964 UK album 'A Hard Day's Night' were credited to Lennon-McCartney, representing the only Beatles album consisting entirely of their original compositions?

Answer with a number.
Identify the French-titled Paul McCartney ballad from the 1965 album 'Rubber Soul' that won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.

Answer with a letter.
Identify the title of the Beatles' 1968 double album, officially self-titled but universally known by the color of its minimalist cover.

Answer with a letter.
Which iconic Beatles song opens with the famous lyric: 'I read the news today, oh boy'?
- Yesterday
- In My Life
- A Day in the Life
- Strawberry Fields Forever
Which track from the Abbey Road album begins with the lyric: 'Here come old flat-top, he come grooving up slowly'?
- Come Together
- Something
- Oh! Darling
- Octopus's Garden
Which 1968 song opens with the sound of a jet engine followed by the line: 'Flew in from Miami Beach, BOAC'?
- Revolution
- Back in the U.S.S.R.
- Dear Prudence
- Helter Skelter
Which melancholy ballad begins with the opening line: 'Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away'?
- Yesterday
- Help!
- In My Life
- Eleanor Rigby
Which upbeat track opens with Paul McCartney singing: 'Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace'?
- Penny Lane
- Lady Madonna
- Rocky Raccoon
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
What song begins with the haunting, double-tracked vocal opening line: 'Ah, look at all the lonely people'?
- Eleanor Rigby
- Nowhere Man
- For No One
- Across the Universe
According to the opening verse of 'A Day in the Life', how many holes in Blackburn, Lancashire did the singer read about?

Answer with a number.
In the opening line of 'Hey Jude', how many letters are in the name of the title character?

Answer with a number.
Identify the lonely woman who 'picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been' in the opening verse of a famous 1966 Revolver track.

Answer with a letter.
Identify the main character who 'checked into his room, only to find Gideon's Bible' in the opening lines of a famous 1968 White Album track.

Answer with a letter.
Which George Harrison composition, heavily influenced by Indian classical music, served as the B-side to the 1968 single 'Lady Madonna'?
- Within You Without You
- The Inner Light
- Love You To
- Blue Jay Way
Which member of the Rolling Stones played the comic alto saxophone solo on the quirky 1970 B-side 'You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)'?
- Brian Jones
- Keith Richards
- Mick Jagger
- Charlie Watts
In what year did the Beatles record their energetic, unreleased cover of Little Willie John's 'Leave My Kitten Alone' during the 'Beatles for Sale' sessions?

Answer with a number.
What song served as the B-side to the original UK release of the landmark 1963 single 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'?
- This Boy
- I Saw Her Standing There
- She Loves You
- Thank You Girl
Identify the George Harrison-penned song, featuring a highly prominent bassline played by Harrison himself, that was released as the B-side to 'The Ballad of John and Yoko' in 1969.

Answer with a letter.
The B-side 'Rain' is famous for being one of the first pop records to feature backwards vocals. Which song's lead vocal line is played in reverse at the very end of the track?
- Paperback Writer
- Tomorrow Never Knows
- Rain
- She Said She Said
In what year was the landmark Apple Records non-album single 'Hey Jude' (backed with 'Revolution') released?

Answer with a number.
The beautiful track 'Yes It Is', featuring lush three-part vocal harmonies and early use of a volume pedal, was released in 1965 as the B-side to which hit single?
- Ticket to Ride
- Help!
- Eight Days a Week
- I Feel Fine
Name the German-language version of 'She Loves You' recorded by the Beatles in Paris in 1964 to satisfy their German sub-label.

Answer with a letter.
Unlike most of their catalog recorded at EMI Studios, the 1967 B-side 'Baby, You're a Rich Man' was recorded and mixed in a single six-hour session at which independent London studio?
- Trident Studios
- Olympic Sound Studios
- De Lane Lea Studios
- Regent Sound Studios
Which George Harrison song from the 'Abbey Road' album features a prominent Moog synthesizer part played by George himself?
- Here Comes the Sun
- Something
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- Taxman
What is the title of the first song solely written by Ringo Starr to be released on a Beatles studio album?
- Don't Pass Me By
- Octopus's Garden
- What Goes On
- Act Naturally
Which Eric Clapton-assisted George Harrison composition features on the 1968 self-titled double album (The White Album)?
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- Savoy Truffle
- Piggies
- Long, Long, Long
Ringo Starr's whimsical track 'Octopus's Garden' appeared on which 1969 Beatles album?
- Abbey Road
- Let It Be
- Yellow Submarine
- Revolver
Which George Harrison song, biting in its political commentary, served as the opening track for the landmark 1966 album 'Revolver'?
- Taxman
- Love You To
- I Want to Tell You
- Think for Yourself
Which George Harrison composition was released as a double A-side single alongside John Lennon's 'Come Together' in 1969?
- Something
- Here Comes the Sun
- Old Brown Shoe
- Only a Northern Song
In what year was the Beatles album 'Rubber Soul' released, featuring George Harrison's sitar-infused 'Norwegian Wood' and his own composition 'Think for Yourself'?

Answer with a number.
How many songs on the 1968 double album 'The Beatles' (commonly known as the White Album) are officially credited solely to George Harrison?

Answer with a number.
Name the Indian classical stringed instrument that George Harrison studied under Ravi Shankar and played on the track 'Within You Without You'.

Answer with a letter.
Identify the country where George Harrison wrote 'Here Comes the Sun' while walking in the garden of his friend Eric Clapton's house, Hurtwood Edge.

Answer with a letter.
Who originally recorded "Twist and Shout" in 1961, a year before The Isley Brothers and two years before The Beatles' famous version?
- The Top Notes
- The Cadillacs
- The Coasters
- The Drifters
Which Motown girl group originally recorded "Please Mr. Postman", which the Beatles later covered on their second UK album, "With The Beatles"?
- The Marvelettes
- The Shirelles
- The Ronettes
- The Chiffons
The Beatles' cover of "Words of Love" on the album "Beatles for Sale" was originally written and recorded by which of their major rock and roll influences?
- Buddy Holly
- Carl Perkins
- Chuck Berry
- Roy Orbison
Which R&B singer had the 1962 vocal hit with "A Taste of Honey" that directly inspired the Beatles' close-harmony arrangement on their debut album?
- Lenny Welch
- Sam Cooke
- Ben E. King
- Jackie Wilson
Which Motown icon wrote and originally recorded "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" with his group the Miracles before the Beatles covered it?
- Smokey Robinson
- Marvin Gaye
- Stevie Wonder
- Barrett Strong
The Beatles covered both "Boys" and "Baby It's You" on their debut album. Which American girl group originally recorded both of these tracks?
- The Shirelles
- The Crystals
- The Ronettes
- The Dixie Cups
In what year did Barrett Strong release the original version of "Money (That's What I Want)", which the Beatles famously covered to close out their "With The Beatles" album?

Answer with a number.
How many cover songs in total are featured on the Beatles' 14-track debut UK studio album, "Please Please Me"?

Answer with a number.
Name the legendary rockabilly artist who wrote and originally recorded "Honey Don't", "Matchbox", and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby", all of which were covered by the Beatles.

Answer with a letter.
What is the surname of the American soul singer-songwriter who wrote and originally recorded "Anna (Go to Him)", which John Lennon famously sang on the Beatles' debut album?

Answer with a letter.

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The 100 questions

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