15 music round ideas that go beyond 'name that tune'

Music rounds are either the highlight of a quiz night or the bit where half the room zones out. The difference usually comes down to format. Playing 10 song intros and asking teams to name them works fine, but it's been done to death.

Here are 15 formats we've tested at actual quiz nights. Some worked brilliantly, others taught us valuable lessons about what not to do. All of them are more interesting than a standard "name that tune."

1. The Decade Shuffle

Play one song each from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and 10s. Teams have to match each song to its decade. Sounds easy, but a surprising number of songs aren't when they sound.

This format works because it gets different generations on the team contributing. The 20-somethings might nail the 2010s but struggle with 70s disco. Watch the cross-generational debates unfold.

2. One-Hit Wonders

Everyone knows "Take On Me" is by A-ha, but can they name the artists behind "Mambo No. 5" or "Who Let the Dogs Out"? One-hit wonders are perfect for levelling the playing field because even music buffs get tripped up.

Wikipedia's list of one-hit wonders is a goldmine for this round. Just make sure you pick songs people will actually recognise, even if they can't name the artist.

3. First and Last

Play the first 5 seconds of a song, then the last 5 seconds. Teams get one point for naming the song, one for the artist. The twist is that many songs sound completely different at the start versus the end.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is an obvious example, but there are loads of songs where the outro is unrecognisable. Try "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos, where the famous piano outro sounds like a completely different track.

4. Cover Version Confusion

Play cover versions and ask teams to name the original artist. This consistently creates arguments, which is exactly what you want from a quiz round.

Some suggestions:

• "Hurt" (originally Nine Inch Nails, famously covered by Johnny Cash)
• "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton, not Whitney Houston)
• "Respect" (Otis Redding, not Aretha Franklin)
• "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (originally by Robert Hazard)

The Songfacts website has excellent histories of famous covers and who wrote what originally.

5. The Connection Round

Play five songs that all have something in common. Teams get one point per song they identify, plus a bonus point if they can name the connection.

Examples that work well:

• Songs with colours in the title
• Artists who have appeared in films
• Songs used in car adverts
• Number one hits from a specific year
• Songs by artists from the same city

6. Backwards Intros

Play famous song intros in reverse. Teams have to identify the song. This is surprisingly fun and much harder than it sounds. Queen's "We Will Rock You" backwards is genuinely eerie.

A word of warning: test this beforehand. Some reversed songs sound too distorted to be fair, while others are actually quite easy.

7. Christmas Number Ones (Seasonal)

Play the Christmas number one from different years and teams guess the year. This works brilliantly in December and can be adapted for summer with "summer hits from year X."

The Official Charts Company has the complete history of UK chart toppers if you need to research.

8. The Misheard Lyrics Round

Read out commonly misheard lyrics and teams have to identify the song and write the correct lyric.

Classics include:

• "Wrapped up like a douche" (Blinded by the Light)
• "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" (Tiny Dancer)
• "Excuse me while I kiss this guy" (Purple Haze)

This format doesn't even need music playback, making it perfect if your venue has sound issues.

9. Band Member Maths

Name three or four band members and teams have to identify the band. Award bonus points if they can name the missing member.

Examples:

• Freddie, Brian, Roger, and... (John Deacon, Queen)
• John, Paul, Ringo, and... (George Harrison, The Beatles)
• Mick, Keith, Charlie, and... (Ronnie Wood, The Rolling Stones)

10. The Soundtrack Round

Play instrumental music from films and teams identify the movie. This works especially well for iconic scores that everyone knows but might not name immediately.

Try: Jaws theme, Star Wars, James Bond, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Godfather, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter.

IMDb has comprehensive soundtrack listings if you want to find more obscure options.

11. Year It Came Out

Play a song and teams have to guess the exact year it was released. Award two points for the correct year, one point for being within one year either side.

This format rewards precision while still giving partial credit. It's fairer than all-or-nothing, especially for songs from decades ago.

12. Album Artwork

Show album covers with the text removed and teams identify the album or artist. This visual round breaks up the audio and tests a different kind of music knowledge.

Classic choices: The Dark Side of the Moon, Abbey Road, Nevermind, The Velvet Underground & Nico (the banana), Unknown Pleasures.

13. The Mashup Round

Play mashups of two songs and teams have to identify both tracks. YouTube has endless mashups, but pick ones where both songs are clearly audible, not just DJ remixes.

This format works best with well-known songs. A mashup of two obscure tracks is just frustrating.

14. Finish the Lyric

Read out a lyric and pause before a key word. Teams write down the missing word(s). Simple, no equipment needed beyond your voice, and it creates brilliant moments when the whole pub sings along.

Start easy: "Is this the real life, is this just..." (fantasy) Get harder: "Ground control to Major Tom, take your..." (protein pills and put your helmet on)

15. The Silent Disco Round

This one requires planning but it's memorable. Teams put in earphones connected to their phones, you text them a song title, and they have to hum or mime it for teammates to guess.

Yes, it's basically musical charades, but in a quiz context it's hilarious. Best saved for the end of the night when everyone's relaxed.

Making Music Rounds Work

Whatever format you choose, a few universal tips:

Test your equipment. Nothing kills a music round faster than technical issues. Do a sound check before people arrive.

Mix the decades. A round entirely of 80s music alienates anyone under 40, and vice versa. Spread the years around.

Keep it moving. Don't overexplain the rules. Play the first clip, answer questions if needed, then keep the momentum going.

Accept graceful wrong answers. If a team writes "Bowie" instead of "David Bowie," give them the point. You're running a pub quiz, not a pedantry contest.