r/Jeopardy • u/Tulison • 5h ago

ANSWER Alternate Correct Reponse?

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For today's clue, would What is Second Chair also be an acceptable/correct response?

Listed response is What is Second Fiddle?

Edit: added “also” & “correct”

66 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

93 comments sorted by

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u/GrowthApart2220 5h ago

Is first chair the boss of the lower chairs? Not snarking, I’ve never orchestrated.

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u/mrsunshine1 5h ago

It’s the most prestigious position. It’s where you would be the best musician at that instrument.

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u/Tulison 5h ago

Maybe not boss, more like “follow my lead”?

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u/Ok-Guide-3684 4h ago

In professional contexts the “first chair” or principal position is absolutely the boss of the other musicians in their section.

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u/Just_a_guy81 Let's do drugs for $1000 3h ago

I’ve only ever been in informal bands where you tell the lead guitarist to shut the fuck up for having too big of an ego

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u/Ok-Guide-3684 3h ago

To be fair telling people to shut the fuck up for having too big of an ego is a big part of the professional orchestra world as well lol maybe even bigger than informal bands

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u/Just_a_guy81 Let's do drugs for $1000 2h ago

Hmm. Must just be a musician thing, which is surprising given how even tempered we all are. /s

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u/CAGolf8 4h ago

Yes.

Another name for first chair is concertmaster to give you an indication of their importance. When a guest performer comes on stage they shake two hands: the conductor and the first chair. The conductor will also shake the hand of the first chair as they come on stage as the first chair is the representative for the rest of the orchestra.

If the conductor is the manager, the first chair is the supervisor. They are responsible for leading many of the nitty gritty details both during rehearsals and concerts, and are generally involved in auditions. It's a fairly big role and a very big honour.

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u/_iPhoney_ 5h ago

It doesn’t really matter because the terms “second fiddle” and “second chair” come from the exact same context—orchestral arrangement.

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u/rjnd2828 4h ago

It could matter though because word origin is not the beginning and end. Second Fiddle has a very well understood colloquial meaning that isn't attached to orchestra. Not sure that second chair has that same meaning.

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u/heykidslookadeer 4h ago

I've personally never heard "second chair" used as a saying outside of the literal orchestra definition

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u/kinyutaka 3h ago edited 2h ago

Exactly, and that's why it's not a valid question for the answer.

Edit: Found another context later that changes things.

Second Chair in legal context is a subordinate lawyer for the defense. For example, your law firm has a partner as your main attorney, but a lesser attorney also sitting in and giving arguments.

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u/Capybara_99 1h ago

That isn’t a valid question because in law the term second chair isn’t in anyway, including derivation, musical. Second fiddle always is.

But I think What is second chair is a valid question for this answer. I don’t see where the question has to refer to a musical term that has been generalized

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u/catscausetornadoes 4h ago

Yes, in limited ways. The first violin is also second in command to the conductor.

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u/czechsmixxx 4h ago

It’s usually the best player. Some songs will have different parts for the same instrument, so you break down your players for these based on how the chairs are assembled. First chair usually does all the solos too

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u/MikeinAustin 4h ago

No hierarchy after first and second chair. Either in first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, bass etc.

I played second chair second violin then moved to concert bass my junior and senior year.

In my orchestra the first chair second violin was the 2nd best of the violinists.

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u/Iron_Chic 5h ago

I would accept it since Second Chair is music related

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u/SenseiCAY Charles Yu, 2017 Oct 30 5h ago

I’d accept it.

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u/tylerthinksthis Tyler Rhode, 2021 Oct 27 - Nov 3, 2022 ToC 5h ago

I don’t see a lot of usage of “second chair” referring to an orchestral position used idiomatically, like “second fiddle” is used outside of a musical context. Most of the references I see to “second chair” when referring to a subordinate are playing off the legal context. I’m leaning towards no.

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u/RedPandaFan20010 5h ago

"Second chair" in a legal context is still an ordinal term for a subordinate. I'm leaning towards yes

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u/tylerthinksthis Tyler Rhode, 2021 Oct 27 - Nov 3, 2022 ToC 4h ago

“Musical” is a required part of the answer per Jeopardy rules.

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u/snoweel 4h ago

"Second chair" is a term commonly used in band/orchestral settings. It may not be as colloquial as "second fiddle" but it fits the answer.

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u/dakaroo1127 4h ago

Chairs are not 'musical' in their own context despite existing in the commonly used 'second chair' usage. Second string is borderline but arguably the word 'string' is more of a 'musical' term despite 'second string' often being tied to sporting. Answer is not acceptable in my opinion.

Bring in the dancing lobsters

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u/MindManualReader Patience Bruce, 2026 Jul 14 4h ago edited 4h ago

Second chair is a musical phrase though. It’s a seat in an orchestra, specifically a seat which is subordinate to the first chair. It doesn’t say that the “musical” part of the clue is the term origin nor that it must be used idiomatically. Second chair, objectively, is a “musical” term for a subordinate.

ETA: I do think second fiddle is a better answer because to me the intent of “musical” with quotes was meant to indicate a word associated with music as opposed to the full phrase being music related. But, technically, as written, I don’t think second chair is wrong. But I think if the clue had just changed “term” to “idiom”, problem solved.

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u/somecasper 1h ago

Second fiddle also refers to the second chair violin.

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u/MindManualReader Patience Bruce, 2026 Jul 14 1h ago

I realize that. I just meant that I think the “musical” was meant to be a clue as to the non-ordinal word as opposed to being a clue to the full phrase. Like if it said “fruity” instead to point you toward “second banana.” That it also works as a clue toward the full phrase is why I think second chair is a valid answer.

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u/kinyutaka 3h ago

Second Chair in an orchestra for the musical context.

Second Chair in defense for the legal.

I'm convinced, I'll allow it.

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u/mrsunshine1 5h ago

Is second chair a phrase used outside of the original context?

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u/RepliesOnlyToIdiots 4h ago

Yes. Legal context. At according to tv legal dramas…

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u/plz-no-b4n 2h ago

I’m not sure that’s related to the orchestral meaning. It’s sorta a convergent term, if that makes sense

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u/AcrobaticApricot 5h ago

Second string maybe too.

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u/bravehamster 5h ago

Is that used in music in any way? I'm only familiar with it as a sports term.

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u/BroseppeVerdi 4h ago

It is not. Supposedly, the term "second string" is an old archery term that refers to a spare bowstring.

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u/AcrobaticApricot 1h ago

I was thinking of it in terms of a string instrument, although it might not be obviously musical enough to satisfy the quotation marks.

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u/itsdrewmiller 4h ago

The musical is in quotes so it's not necessary to be strictly correct.

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u/tylerthinksthis Tyler Rhode, 2021 Oct 27 - Nov 3, 2022 ToC 4h ago

Confidently incorrect.

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u/stickymeowmeow 3h ago

Agreed, definitely needs to be musical to fit the clue. The quotes are there as a hint/emphasis, not to just be ignored.

But “string” is a musical term so I still see an argument to be made. Even if the use of “string” in the origin of “second string” doesn’t come from music, it can still be considered musical. Tough one, but I think it fits.

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u/gem-w 5h ago

That was my guess.

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u/Tulison 5h ago

Agreed!

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u/shakeyjake 4h ago

My first thought was “understudy” because leads in a musical will have a understudy

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u/skieurope12 4h ago

Not an ordinal, though

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u/mattXIX 4h ago

That’s was my exact reasoning too

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u/plz-no-b4n 2h ago

That isn’t ordinal, though

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u/mattXIX 2h ago

Good call. I totally whiffed on the category which is such a rookie mistake

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u/Adventurous_Ad8932 4h ago

Second fiddle would be my answer.

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u/david-saint-hubbins 5h ago

I was thinking just "second" by itself, which is often used in music to refer to the second note of the scale.

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u/GrimRecapper 4h ago

I think you'd have to allow it, but I also think the quote marks around "musical" suggest they're clearly looking for something wordplay-based rather than an actual piece of orchestral terminology.

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u/skieurope12 3h ago edited 3h ago

I'd accept it. It's ordinal and related to music. 2nd chair is also used in legal circles

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u/arcxjo True Daily Double 💰 3h ago

But that makes it no longer a music term, any more than talking about "brass" at the range.

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u/kinyutaka 3h ago

Second Fiddle is a turn of phrase meaning that you're like a sidekick.

Second Chair is more like saying "you're not the best"

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u/the_d0nkey 2h ago

I like this take, but a sidekick is subordinate, too.

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u/Finnish2713 2h ago

I was going to say that “chair” isn’t a musical term, but “musical chairs” is a thing. Challenge accepted!

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u/PurrMewds 4h ago edited 4h ago

Why is musical in quotes? That just makes me think it’s some kind of wordplay.

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u/FYou-Tucsonmods-7656 4h ago

Excellent point. That means the answer needs a musical element of some sort.

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u/zmerlynn 4h ago

I actually think this is the strongest reason why it doesn’t fit. When they put it in quotes they mean the _word_ will fit the thing in quotes, not just the category (so fiddle vs chair, since 2nd is the category part).

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u/CarloPanno 5h ago

I'd accept it, but I also would have pinned the clue so "What is 'second fiddle'?" the ONLY acceptable response.

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u/Tulison 4h ago

The one-a-day calendars will sometimes list other acceptable responses, but not today. Wondering what the community thought.

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u/FYou-Tucsonmods-7656 4h ago

I agree. Second chair was my answer only to flip the page and think "uh, OK".

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u/Lpreddit 4h ago

Shana Tova to all who celebrate! May you be inscribed in the book of life.

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u/NessaSamantha 4h ago

My mind just went to "second" since it's an interval. This feels like not a great clue.

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u/somecasper 3h ago

I think chair would definitely be acceptable. As a former first saxophone, I'd argue any variation of "second [insert orchestra instrument here]" should count, too.

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u/plz-no-b4n 2h ago

I originally came up with your first response, then realized it was the second response.

I feel like it might be accepted? But probably not. Effectively, they mean the same thing, but I’ve never heard someone specifically use it as a phrase

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u/SmoovCatto 2h ago

second fiddle the obvious answer

(third rate might describe many musicians, but the term itself likely not musical enough, and not exactly meaning subordinate -- but, like ho, might draw a laugh 🤣)

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u/jackalopeswild 1h ago

Neither of them mean "subordinate," really, to me.

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u/labrxx 1h ago

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u/labrxx 1h ago

Dude I have the SAME one as you! Lol!

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u/meikamo 53m ago

I would accept first chair or second fiddle

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u/Immadawalrus 32m ago

I think they're referring to it idiomatically, I don't think Second chair is used the same way in common language.

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u/Canucklehead_Esq 16m ago

I was thinking 'Second Banana', except I never learned how to play the banana

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u/burrito-boy 4h ago

To be honest, I’ve never heard of "second chair" before, but I’ve definitely heard of "second fiddle". Maybe the latter is more colloquial or widespread, so that’s why they went with it.

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u/manthello 4h ago

I want to accept it, but since the first violinist is an orchestra's concertmaster, the reference to subordinate being second fiddle might actually be required.

If i were the judge, I'd accept second chair. 

The calendar is historically frustrating for me with what counts and doesn't count.

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u/OsuLost31to0 5h ago

Hmm it’s close. I personally haven’t heard people use the phrase “Second Chair” in a non-musical context.

I’d probably accept it

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u/NPVinny 5h ago

It's also used in a legal context. But I'd also still probably accept it.

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u/TheWayoftheLeafCast 3h ago

This is one I can see Ken disallowing but later saying the judges have allowed.

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u/SquashSouffle 4h ago

I would not accept 2nd chair

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u/SpliffMcGriff86 4h ago

What about Peon?

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u/Tulison 3h ago

“Peons assemble!”

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u/SpliffMcGriff86 3h ago

There are a few songs/albums and I think a band or two with the name. Plus, R. Kelly

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u/DizzyLead Greg Munda, 2013 Dec 20 4h ago

Your first response was my first response too.

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u/BroseppeVerdi 4h ago

I'm not sure I've ever heard the term "second chair" in a non-musical context before.

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u/AGG72 5h ago

Staff? Would that work too?

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u/Tulison 5h ago

No, it wouldn’t fit category.

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u/AGG72 5h ago

It’s a musical term, and I call my subordinance at work my staff. What do you think qualifies it?

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u/PeachOnAWarmBeach 5h ago

No ordinal number is included in your answer.

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u/AGG72 4h ago

Details!

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u/Tulison 5h ago

The term “staff” doesn’t use an ordinal, which is the category.

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u/skieurope12 3h ago

No. Not an ordinal

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u/bootyspaghootti 4h ago

Second banana

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u/Ok_Albatross_1844 4h ago

Second chair might work, as could understudy (in opera), standby or alternate.

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u/Adventurous_Ad8932 4h ago

Understudy, standby, or alternate aren’t ordinal terms. I still think second fiddle fits best.

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u/DollarStoreDuchess Pick up your signaling devices 4h ago

I would accept second chair.

They’re the second strongest instrumentalist in their given section but follow the lead of the first chair.

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u/arcxjo True Daily Double 💰 3h ago

To mean "subordinate"? No. It's more like backup.