By Emily Ethridge, CQ Staff

Want to contact a senator’s office by telephone? Chances are when you do, you’ll first listen to some “hold music” — just like when you’re waiting to talk to a customer service rep at the cable company.

Senators’ telephones were equipped with the feature about 15 years ago, with the first selections limited to classical and what’s called “environmental music” — what you might hear in an elevator or dentist’s waiting room.

Then came lively patriotic tunes, and about eight or nine years ago, country music, according to Kimball Winn, the Senate’s assistant sergeant at arms and chief information officer. He declined to name the senator who made the first country music request.

The classical music — the most popular choice overall — is calm and soothing, with composers like Mozart, Stravinski and more modern artists like John Williams. The patriotic option features Souza marches, renditions of songs like “God Bless America,” and anything you’d hear at a Fourth of July parade.

The country option includes popular hits such as “High on Love” by Patty Loveless and “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” by Kenny Chesney.

Even with all the choices, for many senators “silence is golden” and they opt for no music at all. Carl Levin , D-Mich., said music would be “intrusive” and even Orrin G. Hatch , R-Utah, a prolific songwriter, leaves waiting callers with empty air. So does Grateful Dead aficionado Patrick J. Leahy , D-Vt., even though he professes to also enjoy classical music.

VIDEO: We Ask Senators, What Would Be On Your “Hold Music” Playlist?

Mississippi Republican Thad Cochran , who keeps a baby grand piano in his Senate office, treats his callers to classical melodies, while John Barrasso , R-Wyo., and Evan Bayh , D-Ind., both enjoy the vibrant patriotic music option.

Senators who want to add a new music category can make a request — and like most anything in Congress, it’s subject to committee approval, in this case the Senate Rules panel, Winn said. The sergeant at arms office must also determine whether the music choice is feasible.

“We don’t get requests for new music very often ... People are very satisfied with the choices,” Winn said.

And some requests may not make it past the hurdles. Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill said her ideal hold music would include the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. That may be too funky for the traditional Senate.

Winn said he has heard rumors that some senators want to design hold music playlists featuring artists from their home states. Unfortunately, the Senate phone system couldn’t handle 50 different music options.

And again, like any issue in Congress, hold music has not escaped controversy. A few years ago, the sergeant at arms office received complaints about the country songs, Winn said. “Regional differences” sparked debate about what songs actually qualified as country.