Songtag Variation

Additional Game Variations for SongTag

Here are more engaging variations to expand SongTag, keeping the core circle setup, clipboard passing for song suggestions, quiet listening on YouTube, and post-song discussions. These add themes, challenges, competition, and creativity to suit different group sizes, ages, or moods:

  • Themed Rounds: Assign a specific category for each round of clipboard passing (e.g., “songs that remind you of summer,” “tracks with a strong beat for dancing,” “childhood favorites,” “songs about love/heartbreak/family,” or “movie soundtracks”). This sparks nostalgia and focused sharing. 0 5
  • Genre or Decade Challenge: Players must write songs from a designated genre (e.g., rock, pop, hip-hop) or era (e.g., 80s, 2000s, current hits). Rotate categories each round to broaden musical horizons and lead to debates like “best decade for music.” 3
  • Emotional or Descriptive Tags: Alongside the song title/artist, players write 2-3 words describing its mood (e.g., “uplifting adventure” or “melancholy rain”). During discussion, guess others’ tags before revealing, or vote on which song best matches a group emotion like “joyful” or “relaxing.” 14
  • Lyric or Cover Twist: After listening, the group guesses a key lyric snippet written secretly on the clipboard (revealed post-song). Variation: Play a YouTube cover version instead of the original, then discuss differences from the “real” one. 16
  • Competitive Scoring: Award points during discussion (e.g., 1-5 stars per player for “most surprising,” “best vibe,” or “made me want to dance”). Highest scorer after all songs picks the next round’s theme. For families, use simple tallies on the clipboard. 2
  • Draw-Your-Song: Provide paper/clipboards for doodling. While listening quietly, everyone sketches what the song evokes (no talking). Post-song, share and discuss drawings—like “What does this swirling line mean?”—for a visual, kid-friendly layer. 6 15
  • Pass-the-Props: Pair with a physical object passed around the circle on the beat (e.g., a soft ball or scarf). Whoever holds it when the song ends starts the discussion or shares a personal story tied to it. 0 1
  • Bingo Playlist: Create bingo cards with SongTag categories (e.g., “song over 5 minutes,” “features a guitar solo,” “non-English lyrics”). Mark off as songs play; first to complete a row/line wins a small prize and curates the next playlist. 49
  • Name That Tune Tease: The suggester plays only a 10-20 second YouTube clip first. Group guesses title/artist before full play. Correct guesses earn “bonus discussion time” or pick the next song order. 16
  • Virtual or Hybrid Mode: For remote play, use a shared Google Doc/Slido for “clipboard” passing, a synced YouTube watch party tool, and voice chat for discussion. Ideal for distant family. 10 13

These variations keep sessions fresh (30-90 minutes), encourage deeper connections, and scale for 4-12 players. Mix and match for replayability!

  • Play in rounds, with each person adding a song themed around a category (e.g., “songs from your childhood” or “uplifting tracks”).
  • Keep the list as a shared playlist for future gatherings.