What is your typical response when someone asks you whether you like a particular style of music that you don’t normally listen to? Most of us will say that we don’t like it and/or never listen to that style of music. I’d like to propose a different response. Instead of saying you don’t like it, ask the other person why they like it. Their response may provide some insight into the music that you hadn’t thought of before.
This is but an example of a larger issue that I’d like to address. Many musicians, even those who claim to be open minded about music, are actually fairly close minded. They only play rock music (or jazz music, or blues music, etc.), so they don’t listen to other types of music. I think there is something to be learned from all great musicians, regardless of the style of music they play. For example, I don’t listen to much country music, but I’m fortunate to live in a city with many great musicians who just happen to play country music. If I didn’t listen to any country music, I’d be missing out on some of the best musicians in the business.
The same is true of almost any style of music. Each musician phrases things differently based on the format in which they are playing. Consider an artist like John 5, who has managed to meld metal with country and somehow make it work for him. You may or may not like the resulting music, but you must admit that he is putting forth some interesting ideas and licks. He has taken many ideas traditionally used by country musicians and placed them in a metal context.
While I don’t listen to a lot of rap music, I can enjoy listening to guitarists who back up rap artists. It’s interesting to see how they hold back and complement the music rather than drive the music. This is very different from most of the music I listen to, which is primarily guitar driven.
You can pick out almost any style of music and find great musicians to learn from. I’m not suggesting that you go out of your way to listen to music you don’t like (although that’s not necessarily a bad idea), I’m just suggesting that maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss a style of music you’re not familiar with or you don’t like. Perhaps you’ll learn a lick that you hadn’t thought of or heard before. There’s a lot to learn when playing the guitar and I don’t think we should limit ourselves to one particular style of music.
Do you keep an open mind about music?
so good to hear you say all of that. There’s a real ignorance/arrogance in the guitar world right now and its starting to really get to me. The range of music that is in my collection is extremely broad, and I jam with all of those albums, even if its India Vibes. I’m always trying to encourage people to just shut up and listen, and to listen to music that doesn’t have guitar in it as well. So thank you for this wonderful post! I’ll be checkin’ back
Great post, Josh. Another thing in which listening to music styles other than your favorites can prove useful is taking you out of creative blocks. I use this trick every time and it works like a charm for my own music creation.
Thanks Tennyson and Lex for stopping by!
@Lex – Great idea about listening to other, unfamiliar music to break out of creative blocks.
@Tennyson – I agree that it’s often nice to listen to non-guitar music to hear how other musicians phrase their lines. There’s something to learn from all great musicians, IMO.
yeah, you’re totally right. I am a guitarist too and I love to listen to many different styles of music. I especially inspire myself alot from african rhythms or classical music. I have found out that rhythm plays an essential part when you are making music and it can be incredibly useful to be inspired by different rhythmical structures. Things you would have never taken into account if you weren’t open minded about music could give your music a very unique and interesting taste if you develope your own style. 🙂
I forgot to mention that you could even be inspired by nature if you keep an open ear wherever you are and just listen. This is something many of us forget when they are making music. Nature is so rich of ideas and we should keep an open mind about all these things too because they can have an enormous influence on us.
@Peter – Great idea about listening to different rhythms. I find myself drawn to rhythms in music, not necessarily the lyrics or the solo work, but the rhythms.
Also, great idea about listening to nature. At the recent Tommy Emmanuel concert I went to, he did a great atmospheric piece recreating many of the natural rhythms of the native Australian indigenous people.