Anxiety while… choosing music?

[mericksonmusic]

So this has been something on my mind for a long time. Lately I haven’t been able to truly expand my listening habits. I’m worried I’m “listening to the wrong thing” to get to be the best guitarist/musician I can be, so I default to albums I know and love but never find new music. It has led to me being undereducated even if I have a music degree. Has anyone had this? How did you get out of it?

 

[Ed Seith]

It's not about what you listen to specifically. It's about having broad musical interests and listening habits. There are a LOT of genres and subgenres out there. Explore them all. You will absorb SOMETHING from each of them without even knowing it, and that will help shape you into a rounded musician.

Bonus points if you LEARN stuff from as many of those genres as possible.

 

[Forgetabull]

Listen to as much stuff as you can. Like #EdSaid(tm) it doesn't matter what you listen to specifically. The more you hear, the more you can absorb things that other people do, and in turn find what other people do that you already do. Something I use a bit is in Spotify, there is a "<Insert Band Here> Radio". That lets me hear stuff which is in the same genre as the band might know it branches off a bit. Then I'll wander into some other <Band> Radio. Other times I'll just pick a genre and just choose some random playlist.

 

[Al7eX]

I have the same problem. I almost made second nature to click on Stand Up and Scream by Asking Alexandria about every day so I know how you feel. The radio thing is probably the best solution. For example, I like Asking Alexandria so I typed the radio for it (unfortunately nothing on Apple Music) and I found paranoia by A Day to Remember. Also the thread “What are you currently listening to?” You can also find new music there.

 

[Ed Seith]

Or you could get metal, lounge music, light jazz, ragtime, and several other genres all in one song if you listen to Twelve Foot Ninja.

 

[William B.]

I found lot's of music through YT algorithms. Liking videos, making playlists and listening to mixes. Deleting my old account messed me up some.

 

[Alexander]

Or you could get metal, lounge music, light jazz, ragtime, and several other genres all in one song if you listen to Twelve Foot Ninja.

Weird that i come across this! I just got into listening to Twelve Foot Ninja last night. Showed up on my Spotify playlist after listening to Great Old Ones by Pathways.