For informational purposes, here is a table of the 100 most useful tags in the Skiptune database. We use “tag” here to mean broadly any keyword useful in defining a set of melodies with something in common. A musical genre is a type of tag, and tunes often have multiple tags. This table was updated in January 2026 when the Skiptune database contained 82,000 melodies written up to and including 1976.
“Count” refers to the number of melodies with a particular tag. “Percent” refers to the percent of the tunes in the database with a particular tag. The percentages add to more than 100 percent because many tunes have multiple tags (e.g., belong to multiple genres).
| Tag | Count | Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballad | 28613 | 34.9 | Song referring to or evoking a particular person, place, or thing, or telling a story |
| Folk | 27855 | 34.0 | Arising from ordinary people rather than a trained composer, or a tune written in this style |
| English | 20734 | 25.3 | Associated in some way with England |
| Dance | 20215 | 24.7 | Associated with any form of dancing; tunes meant to be moved to |
| American | 19034 | 23.2 | Associated in some way with the United States |
| Pop | 17822 | 21.7 | Covered by multiple artists; marketed by mass media |
| Baroque | 12601 | 15.4 | Written during or in the style of the Baroque era, roughly 1600 – 1760 A.D. |
| Film | 8878 | 10.8 | Included in a full-length feature film |
| Showtune | 5759 | 7.0 | Written for the stage or film in the 20st century or after, such as Broadway musicals or reviews, but not operas or musical concerts |
| Romantic | 5749 | 7.0 | Written during or in the style of the Romantic era, roughly the 19th century |
| Irish | 5595 | 6.8 | Associated in some way with Ireland |
| Country Dance | 4904 | 6.0 | General term for a folk dance |
| Scotch | 4843 | 5.9 | Associated in some way with Scotland |
| Tv | 4721 | 5.8 | Played on television as a theme or part of a show |
| Sonata | 4531 | 5.5 | Broadly referring to tunes written to be played by a solo instrument accompanied by other instruments, but not sung to |
| Duet | 4275 | 5.2 | Melody designed to be played with another line of melody that harmonizes |
| Rock | 4268 | 5.2 | Style emerging in the 1950s as a merger of rock & roll, blues, rhythm and blues, and country music |
| Renaissance | 3965 | 4.8 | Written during the Renaissance period, roughly the 15th and 16th centuries |
| Hymn | 3596 | 4.4 | Deriving from religious rites; used in churches, temples, or synagogues as part of a service |
| Celtic | 3378 | 4.1 | Associated with the British isles generally; includes Irish, Scotch, English, Welsh |
| Jig | 2849 | 3.5 | Style of dance written in 6/8 time |
| Jazz | 2835 | 3.5 | Associated with improvisation, syncopation, and regular rhythm; styles include Dixieland, swing, and bebop |
| Nursery | 2596 | 3.2 | Popular with or geared toward children |
| Stage | 2543 | 3.1 | Any melody performed on a stage in any era or any country |
| Classical | 2442 | 3.0 | Written during or in the style of the Classical period, roughly 1730 to the early 1800s |
| German | 2284 | 2.8 | Associated in some way with Germany |
| Opera | 2212 | 2.7 | Song or tune used in an opera |
| Reel | 2067 | 2.5 | Style of dance in 4/4 time |
| Var | 2021 | 2.5 | a variation on a tune or melody |
| Hungarian | 1918 | 2.3 | Associated with Hungary |
| Standard | 1867 | 2.3 | Melodies reaching a consensus threshold of covers and popularity, sometimes reaching across genres |
| Love | 1852 | 2.3 | Associated with amorous sentiments or expressions of commitment |
| French | 1833 | 2.2 | Associated in some way with France |
| Waltz | 1551 | 1.9 | Style of dance written in 3/4 time |
| Italian | 1456 | 1.8 | Associated in some way with Italy |
| Operetta | 1389 | 1.7 | Songs found in operettas; generally lighter and more amusing than those in operas |
| Hornpipe | 1259 | 1.5 | Style of dance in 4/4 time but played slower than reels |
| March | 1255 | 1.5 | Possessing a strong regular rhythm for marching, such as in a parade |
| Carol | 1223 | 1.5 | Associated with the birth of Christ; Christmas songs with a religious reference or flavor |
| Dutch | 1152 | 1.4 | associated with the Netherlands |
| Symphonic | 1077 | 1.3 | a theme from a symphony |
| Air | 1076 | 1.3 | melodic tune with or without words, song-like |
| Animated | 970 | 1.2 | Used in cartoons or CGI films or videos |
| Country | 942 | 1.1 | rural southern U.S. music, a mix of ballads and dances |
| Sacred | 938 | 1.1 | Music performed in church or other holy places by trained performers |
| Rhythm & Blues | 882 | 1.1 | Style derived from African American music of the 1940s |
| Ad | 823 | 1.0 | used in an advertisement or commercial as a jingle or theme |
| Patriotic | 747 | 0.9 | Associated with the stirring of nationalistic feelings |
| Minuet | 732 | 0.9 | Stately ballroom dance in 3/4 time; related to the waltz |
| Latin | 703 | 0.9 | Associated with western countries where Spanish, French, or Portuguese prevail (Mexico, Central America, South America) |
| A.American | 682 | 0.8 | Associated with Americans of African descent |
| Canon | 680 | 0.8 | Songs designed to be sung as a round |
| Galliard | 520 | 0.6 | Two-person, energetic dance originating in France in the middle of the 1500s, played in triple time |
| Military | 515 | 0.6 | Associated with battles, wars, or the military in general |
| Campfire | 514 | 0.6 | Associated with group singing, such as around a campfire |
| Pavane | 511 | 0.6 | Slow tempo dance in 2/2 or 4/4 time as in a procession arising in Europe during the Renaissance, remaining popular as a music form after the dance lost its popularity |
| Beatles | 502 | 0.6 | Songs written or performed by the Beatles, a defining rock group arising in the late 1950s |
| Spiritual | 489 | 0.6 | Associated with black Christians of the southern United States |
| Swing | 486 | 0.6 | American style of the 1930s where the music is played not as written, but with alternate lengthening and shortening of note durations |
| Bebop | 482 | 0.6 | 1940s jazz style with complex harmonies and rhythms |
| Sports | 469 | 0.6 | Used in sporting matches, games, or events |
| Gospel | 463 | 0.6 | Sub-genera of hymns with a call and response, entertaining and lively style |
| Aria | 443 | 0.5 | Song from an opera |
| Foxtrot | 442 | 0.5 | ballroom dance in 4/4 time, fast tempo, alternating two quick and two slow steps |
| Rondo | 434 | 0.5 | Usually the last part of a sonata with one main theme which is returned to after sub-themes are presented and explored |
| Ballet | 428 | 0.5 | Associated with the style of dance characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements |
| Spanish | 426 | 0.5 | Associated in some way with Spain |
| Chanson | 377 | 0.5 | French song with lyrics dating from the Middle Ages |
| Minstrel | 364 | 0.4 | Songs marketed as of black American origin, often performed with blackened faces |
| Tango | 360 | 0.4 | Ballroom dance in 2/4 time from Buenos Aires, characterized by striking rhythms, stylized, postures, and abrupt rests |
| Oratorio | 332 | 0.4 | a musical work for orchestra and voices, usually on a religious theme, performed without costumes or action |
| Bluegrass | 326 | 0.4 | Sub-genre of American folk music with a blues, jazzy style |
| Courante | 317 | 0.4 | Triple meter, court dance arising in the late Renaissance marked by short advances and retreats |
| Czech | 314 | 0.4 | associated with the country of the Czech Republic |
| Ballad Opera | 313 | 0.4 | Traditional or operatic songs in early 18th century English theatrical entertainment |
| Allemande | 310 | 0.4 | Broad term for German renaissance and baroque dances eventually spreading to the rest of Europe |
| Oldtime | 302 | 0.4 | Associated with the birth of American folk music, also known as old-timey or mountain music |
| Video Game | 299 | 0.4 | Songs used in video games |
| Russian | 289 | 0.4 | Associated in some way with Russia |
| Strathspey | 281 | 0.3 | Written for strathspey dances, originating in Celtic cultures in the mid-1600s; often in 4/4 time |
| Torch | 277 | 0.3 | song about unrequited love |
| Canadian | 268 | 0.3 | Associated in some way with Canada |
| Jewish | 268 | 0.3 | associated with Jews |
| Lullaby | 259 | 0.3 | Appropriate for putting babies to sleep |
| School | 256 | 0.3 | Associated with institutions of education such as fight songs |
| Slipjig | 256 | 0.3 | Irish stepdance, graceful and flowing in 9/8 time |
| Drinking | 252 | 0.3 | Songs associated with group singing while imbibing alcohol, such as at a bar or pub |
| Blues | 248 | 0.3 | Music of African American origin in the rural southern U.S. in the late 1800s and blossoming in the 1940s in cities, eventually leading to both rhythm & blues and rock & roll |
| Funereal | 239 | 0.3 | Associated with funerals or burying the dead rituals |
| Polka | 234 | 0.3 | Dance of Bohemian origin with two beats to the bar |
| Bolero | 233 | 0.3 | Spanish dance in 3/4 time characterized by sharp turns and sudden pauses in a position with one arm arched overhead |
| Xmas | 229 | 0.3 | Associated with the secular Christmas holiday period |
| Gavotte | 222 | 0.3 | French dance popular in the 18th century, medium tempo, in 2/2 or 4/4 time |
| Mexican | 214 | 0.3 | associated with the country of Mexico |
| Big Band | 214 | 0.3 | Music arising in the U.S. in the 20th century played by small (10-20 musicians) groups, peaking in popularity in the 1940s with swing music |
| Latvian | 206 | 0.3 | associated with the country of Latvia |
| Csardas | 206 | 0.3 | Hungarian dance that starts slowly and ends with a fast flourish |
| Hawaiian | 205 | 0.2 | associated with indigenous people of Hawaii |
| Sarabande | 201 | 0.2 | Court dance of slow tempo arising from Spain in the 1500s in triple time, surviving as a musical form after the dance lost popularity |
| Chaconne | 197 | 0.2 | a stately dance and musical form popular in the 17th and 18th centuries |