Musical Styles from Around the World
Here is a compilation I made of all the main musical styles in the world and some examples of songs that exemplify them.
5/4: “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck, “Morning Dance” by Spyro Gyra, “All You Need” by Snarky Puppy
7/4: “Countdown” by John Coltrane, “Morning Bell” by Radiohead
Acid House: “Acid Trax” by Phuture and “Voodoo Ray” by A Guy Called Gerald.
Acid Jazz: “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” by Us3, “Mr. P.C.” by John Scofield
Afrobeat: “Zombie” by Fela Kuti, “Sorrow Tears and Blood” by Fela Kuti
Afro-Cuban 6/8: Guaguancó: “El Raton” by Cheo Feliciano; Mozambique: “Mozambique” by Tito Puente; Son Cubano: “Chan Chan” by Buena Vista Social Club; Changüí: Changüí: “Yo No Como Camarón” by Elio Revé y su Charangón
Afro-Cuban: “Mambo Influenciado” by Chucho Valdés, “Afro Blue” by Mongo Santamaría
Afro-Pop: “Pata Pata” by Miriam Makeba and “Ye” by Burna Boy.
Ambient: “Music for Airports” by Brian Eno and “Selected Ambient Works 85-92” by Aphex Twin.
Appalachian Bluegrass: “Blue Moon of Kentucky” by Bill Monroe and “Rocky Top” by The Osborne Brothers.
Appalachian Folk: “Shady Grove” and “Wayfaring Stranger.”
Avant-Garde: “Lonely Woman” by Ornette Coleman, “Meditations” by John Coltrane
Balkan Brass: “Opa Cupa” by Goran Bregović and “Djurdjevdan” by Bijelo Dugme.
Balkan: “Ederlezi” by Goran Bregović and “Mesecina” by Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra.
Ballads: “My Funny Valentine” by Miles Davis, “Misty” by Erroll Garner
Barbershop Harmony: “Lonesome Road” and “Hello Mary Lou” plus “Sweet Adeline” and “Lida Rose.”
Baroque: Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Brandenburg Concertos” and Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” plus “Air on the G String” by Johann Sebastian Bach and “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel.
Bebop: “Donna Lee” by Charlie Parker, “Confirmation” by Charlie Parker
Bluegrass: “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” by Earl Scruggs and “Rocky Top” by The Osborne Brothers.
Blues: “Stormy Monday” by T-Bone Walker, “All Blues” by Miles Davis
Bolero: “Besame Mucho” and “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás.”
Bollywood: “Jai Ho” from the film Slumdog Millionaire and “Chaiyya Chaiyya” from the film Dil Se.
Bossa Nova Jazz: “Desafinado” by Antonio Carlos Jobim, “One Note Samba” by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto
Bossa Nova: “The Girl from Ipanema” by Antonio Carlos Jobim, “Wave” by João Gilberto
Cajun: “Jolie Blonde” and “Les Flammes d’Enfer.”
Calypso: “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” by Harry Belafonte and “Rum and Coca-Cola” by The Andrews Sisters.
Celtic: “Danny Boy” and “The Irish Washerwoman.”
Chicago Blues: “Sweet Home Chicago” by Robert Johnson, “Mannish Boy” by Muddy Waters
Classical: Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5,” Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik,” and Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3.”
Contemporary Fusion: “Actual Proof” by Herbie Hancock, “Strasbourg/St. Denis” by Roy Hargrove
Contemporary Gospel: “Oh Happy Day” by Edwin Hawkins Singers and “I Smile” by Kirk Franklin.
Contemporary R&B: “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé and “Adorn” by Miguel.
Cool Jazz: “So What” by Miles Davis, “Blue in Green” by Bill Evans
Country Blues: “Cross Road Blues” by Robert Johnson, “Statesboro Blues” by Blind Willie McTell
Country: “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, and “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks.
Cumbia: “La Pollera Colora” and “Cumbia Sobre el Río.”
Delta Blues: “Crossroad Blues” by Robert Johnson and “Sweet Home Chicago” by Robert Johnson.
Dixieland: “When the Saints Go Marching In” by Louis Armstrong, “Tiger Rag” by Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Drone Metal: “Dopesmoker” by Sleep, “Funeralopolis” by Electric Wizard
Drum and Bass: “Pulp Fiction” by Alex Reece and “Valley of the Shadows” by Origin Unknown.
Electro Pop: “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa and “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.
Electro Swing: “Lone Digger” by Caravan Palace and “Swing Set” by Wolfgang Lohr.
Electronic: “Around the World” by Daft Punk, “Blue Monday” by New Order, and “Levels” by Avicii.
Ethereal Wave: “Song to the Siren” by This Mortal Coil and “Fade into You” by Mazzy Star.
Eurodance: “What Is Love” by Haddaway, “Rhythm Is a Dancer” by Snap!
Flamenco Fusion: “Bulería con Ricardo” by Paco de Lucía and “Gitana” by Ketama.
Flamenco: “Bulería” and “Soleá.”
Funk Rock “Super Freak” by Rick James and “Give It Away” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Funk: “Cissy Strut” by The Meters, “Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock
Fusion Jazz: “Birdland” by Weather Report and “Spain” by Chick Corea.
Gamelan: “Gamelan Degung” and “Gamelan Gong Kebyar” plus “Gamelan Gong Kebyar” and “Ladrang Wilujeng.”
Gospel: “Oh Happy Day” by Edwin Hawkins Singers, “Amazing Grace” by Mahalia Jackson, and “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor.
Grunge: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana and “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden.
Gypsy Jazz: “Minor Swing” by Django Reinhardt, “Nuages” by Django Reinhardt
Highlife: “Sweet Mother” by Prince Nico Mbarga and “Odo Ye Wu” by E.T. Mensah.
Hindustani Classical: “Malkauns” and “Yaman” plus “Raga Malkauns” and “Raga Yaman.”
Hindustani Fusion: “Breathing Under Water” by Anoushka Shankar and “Tabla Rock” by Talvin Singh.
Hindustani Ghazal: “Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa” by Ghulam Ali and “Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha” by Jagjit Singh.
Hindustani Thumri: “Yaad Piya Ki Aaye” by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and “Ka Karoon Sajni” by Shobha Gurtu.
Hip-Hop: “Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G. and “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.
Honky-Tonk: “Your Cheatin’ Heart” by Hank Williams, “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” by Hank Williams
Indie: “Creep” by Radiohead and “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers.
Indigenous: Native American powwow songs, Aboriginal didgeridoo music, and Maori chants.
Jit: “Skokiaan” by the Bhundu Boys and “Gomba” by Leonard Zhakata.
Jive: “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by The Andrews Sisters and “Jump, Jive an’ Wail” by Louis Prima.
J-Pop: “Pretender” by Official HIGE DANDism and “Heavy Rotation” by AKB48.
J-Punk: “Give Me Chocolate!!” by Babymetal and “Dammit” by Shonen Knife.
Kizomba: “Stony – Danca Kizomba” and “Nelson Freitas – Rebound Chick” plus “Stony” by Fanny J and “Bo É Pra Dançar” by Badoxa.
Klezmer: “Hava Nagila” and “Bei Mir Bistu Shein.”
K-pop: “Gangnam Style” by Psy and “Dynamite” by BTS.
Latin Jazz: “Manteca” by Dizzy Gillespie, “Oye Como Va” by Tito Puente
Latin/Samba Jazz: “Desafinado” by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, “Black Orpheus” by Vince Guaraldi
Malagueña: “Malagueña Salerosa” and “Malagueña de Lecuona.”
Malian Blues: “Ai Du” by Ali Farka Touré and “Tinariwen” by Tinariwen
Mariachi: “Cielito Lindo” and “El Rey.”
Modal Jazz: “So What” by Miles Davis, “Impressions” by John Coltrane
Modern/Contemporary Jazz: “Giant Steps” by John Coltrane, “Naima” by John Coltrane
Neue Deutsche Welle: “99 Luftballons” by Nena and “Da Da Da” by Trio.
Nu Jazz: “Black Cow” by Steely Dan, “Watermelon Man” by Herbie Hancock
Okinawan Folk: “Tinsagu Nu Hana” and “Asadoya Yunta.”
Opera: “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot and “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart.
Polka: “Beer Barrel Polka” and “In Heaven There Is No Beer.”
Progressive Metal: “Pull Me Under” by Dream Theater and “Octavarium” by Symphony X.
Punk Rock: “Anarchy in the U.K.” by the Sex Pistols and “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones.
Qawwali: “Allah Hoo” by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and “Mera Piya Ghar Aaya” by Sabri Brothers.
R&B (Rhythm and Blues): “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye, and “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder.
Reggae: “Stir It Up” by Bob Marley, “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
Salsa: “Oye Como Va” by Tito Puente and “Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony.
Samba Reggae: “Aguas de Marco” by Elis Regina, “Berimbau” by Baden Powell
Second Line: “Iko Iko” by The Dixie Cups, “Hey Pocky A-Way” by The Meters, “Big Chief” by Professor Longhair, “Do Whatcha Wanna” by Rebirth Brass Band
Ska: “The Tide Is High” by The Paragons and “Monkey Man” by The Specials, plus “Guns of Navarone” by The Skatalites
Smooth Jazz: “Breezin'” by George Benson, “Feels So Good” by Chuck Mangione
Soul Jazz: “The Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan, “Compared to What” by Les McCann and Eddie Harris
Stoner Rock: “Green Machine” by Kyuss, “Dragonaut” by Sleep
Surf Rock: “Misirlou” by Dick Dale and His Del-Tones, “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris
Swing: “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington, “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller
Tango: “Por una Cabeza” by Carlos Gardel, “El Choclo” by Ángel Villoldo
Traditional Chinese: “Flowing Water” and “Moonlit Night on the Spring River.”
Traditional Irish: “The Irish Rover” and “Whiskey in the Jar.”
Traditional Japanese: “Sakura Sakura” and “Rokudan no Shirabe.”
Traditional Korean: “Arirang” and “Sanjo.”
Traditional Scottish: “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond” and “Auld Lang Syne.”
Tuvan Throat Singing: “Kongurei” by Huun-Huur-Tu and “Eki Attar” by Alash Ensemble.
Waltz: “Alice in Wonderland” by Bill Evans, “Someday My Prince Will Come” by Dave Brubeck
West Coast Swing: “Route 66” by Nat King Cole, “Jump, Jive, an’ Wail” by Louis Prima
World Fusion: “Baba Yetu” by Christopher Tin and “Desert Rose” by Sting plus “The Mystic’s Dream” by Loreena McKennitt, “Migrations” by Shakti
Zydeco: “Zydeco Sont Pas Sale” by Clifton Chenier and “Zydeco Boogaloo” by Buckwheat Zydeco plus “Ma Tit Fille” by Clifton Chenier and “Zydeco Gris Gris” by Beausoleil
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