Rhythm Distribution

Of related interest:
  • Rhythm Definitions: Comments on how I classify tunes according to rhythm.
  • Top Ten
  • Top 100 Tunes of the Century.

This list ranks rhythms by their relative frequency among all the distinct tunes in the entire database. The total number of distinct tunes indexed is 4,603.

This report can be interpreted as the distribution of tune types within Irish traditional music in general, but especially as it is represented in commercial recordings. The fact that I have also indexed a small number of tunes which are only represented in books, and a few which I play but which are not recorded or printed anywhere, also influences these statistics.

Compare Rhythm Distribution in Session Tunes which considers only the tunes in Ng's Tunography (i.e., tunes I play). Compare also the distribution of tune types in recordings when all tune instances are considered, in the report Rhythm Distribution in Recordings.

RhythmNumber in
entire Tunography		Percentage
of total		Bar graph
Reel1,57534.2%bar
Double jig80117.4%bar
Song58312.7%bar
Hornpipe3186.9%bar
Polka2615.7%bar
Air2014.4%bar
Slide1593.5%bar
Piece1352.9%bar
Slip jig962.1%bar
Waltz902.0%bar
March851.8%bar
Single jig551.2%bar
Barn dance521.1%bar
Set dance400.9%bar
Fling390.8%bar
Strathspey380.8%bar
Highland310.7%bar
Other170.4%bar
Mazurka130.3%bar
Schottisch90.2%bar
Single reel50.1%bar
Please cite your source when you share information from this document. This page was updated on 29 April 2008.
© 2000–2008 Alan Ng, agng@facstaff.wisc.edu. Questions? Comments? Please use the easy Feedback Form. Thank you!
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