Listening to music while going about your daily activities is a common and enjoyable experience. Whether you're commuting to work with your favorite playlist, going for a jog in the park with a high-energy track, or cooking dinner with some background tunes, music can make these moments more exciting.

However, there's a difference between having music play in the background and truly listening to it. Actively engaging with music can unlock a deeper appreciation and understanding of it, especially for someone who makes it.

Unfortunately, many people, even those passionate about music, don't always know how to listen actively. After all, active listening isn't just about hearing the music, it's about immersing yourself in it and experiencing it fully.

In this article, we'll explore the art of active listening, why it's important for anyone who loves music, and the various mediums through which you can listen to music these days. Hopefully, this will allow you to gain a richer and more informed appreciation of the art form.

How to Be an Active Listener

First, let's take a look at some key strategies to help you immerse yourself fully in the listening experience.

Focus on the Song's Structure

One of the best ways to listen to music actively is to understand its structure .

By paying attention to the structure, you get somewhat of a blueprint or bird's eye view of the piece.

One of the key elements I like to listen for is repetition . Many songs rely on repeating sections, such as choruses and verses, to create familiarity. A chorus is what hooks the listener. Even in classical music, you'll hear certain repeated motifs.

Then, listen for variation within these repetitions, such as slight changes in melody or instrumentation. These are the small alterations that keep listeners engaged. Otherwise, we'd be listening to music on a loop.

Melody and harmony are also key components of a song's structure.

The melody is the main sequence of notes that the song revolves around, while harmony provides the supporting chords that support or enrich the melody. I recommend spending time focusing on how these elements interplay and taking notes so you can use those same structural characteristics in your music.

Explore the Timbres and Textures

Understanding music from an emotional standpoint is key, too. After all, music is art, and art should convey emotion! While listening, ask yourself some questions: What mood does the music convey? Does it evoke feelings of joy, sadness, excitement, or tranquility? These feelings could be complex as well.

For example, if I was listening to Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," I might feel nostalgia, hope, or pensiveness. On the other hand, if I was listening to Black Flag's "Rise Above," I might feel more energetic, spastic, or defiant.

By tuning into the emotions, you can connect more deeply with the music and appreciate the artistry behind it.

Once you have a gauge of the entire song as a whole, start tuning into the timbre of separate instruments . Timbre refers to the unique quality or color of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds.

In a jazz piece, for instance, the warm, mellow sound of a saxophone might blend with the soft, subtle notes of a piano, creating a rich, layered texture. However, a rock song might feature the gritty distortion of electric guitars combined with the punchy, driving beat of a live drum kit, giving it a more powerful, energetic texture.

Then, listen to how these elements are balanced with one another.

The same instrumentation can be found in different genres, though the way in which they're balanced says a lot about the music.

Consider the use of drums, bass, and guitar in both a rock song and a jazz piece. The same instruments are often used in both genres, but the way they are balanced drastically alters the overall sound.

In rock, drums are often loud and punchy, the bass is strong and solid, locked in with the kick, and guitars are often the stars of the show, sitting upfront in the mix, whether in the form of heavy riffs or solos.

However, in a jazz piece, drums are often mixed more subtly, and the drummer might use brushes instead of sticks. The bass might be an understated walking line, while the guitar might take on a more supportive role, providing rhythmic chords and occasional melodic lines without any distortion.

Hone in on Individual Instruments

From here, it's a good idea to put the song under the microscope and focus on specific instruments to see how they contribute to the overall piece. Here are some questions you might ask:

• What role does the instrument play in the song? (e.g., melody, harmony, rhythm)
• How does the instrument's tone contribute to the mood of the song?
• Is the instrument in the foreground or background of the mix?
• How does this instrument interact with others in the song?
• Are there any noticeable effects applied to the instrument (e.g., reverb, distortion, delay)?
• Does the instrument's part change throughout the song, and if so, how?

When listening to a specific instrument, pay attention to certain characteristics like tone, pitch, dynamics, and articulation .

• Tone refers to the quality of the sound, which might be bright, dark, warm, harsh, etc.
• Pitch is how high or low the notes are being played. Bass parts are often low, while guitar solos are typically high.
• Dynamics refer to the volume levels and how they change over time. For example, a vocalist might sing quietly during the verses and belt their heart out during the choruses.
• Articulation is how the notes are played, such as staccato or legato.

For example, if you were to focus on a bass guitar in the above track, you'd hear how the punchy, syncopated notes give it that funky feel, driving the overall rhythm of the track.

However, if we were to focus on the bass in this A Tribe Called Quest track, we'd hear that it's more laid-back, as the drums are taking the main rhythm.

Examine How the Song Progresses

By now, you should have a deep understanding of what's going on in the track you're listening to.

Now, I'd like you to think about its movement or progression . Play the song again and focus on any changes from start to finish, taking note of any subtle and significant shifts that contribute to its overall impact.

Some changes to listen for might include dynamics, tempo, instrumentation, and key changes.

For instance, a song might start with a soft, intimate piano intro and gradually build to a powerful, climactic chorus with drums, synths, and all. Listen for how the volume levels change, how new instruments are introduced or removed, and how the tempo might speed up or slow down at different points.

As you identify these changes, try to figure out how the artist achieved these shifts.

For example, in Whitney Houston's iconic rendition of "I Will Always Love You," there is a dramatic key change towards the end of the song. This noticeable shift takes the song up a notch (quite literally) and makes for more of an emotional climax.

Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" is another great example, as the song progresses through a range of unique sections with different tempos, styles, and dynamics. From the operatic midsection to the hard rock headbanging segment, each change adds something special to the song's narrative.

Analyze the Lyrics and Their Meaning

Listening to a song's lyrics and searching for outside context can greatly enhance your understanding and appreciation of the track.

To start, look up the lyrics on websites like Genius, AZLyrics, or MetroLyrics.

Genius is one of my favorites, as you'll also find annotations and interpretations that can shed light on the song's deeper meanings.

When analyzing lyrics, pay close attention to elements such as metaphors, imagery, rhyme scheme, and wordplay. Metaphors can reveal deeper layers of meaning, while vivid imagery can paint a picture that evokes specific emotions or scenarios. The rhyme scheme and wordplay can also add a layer of sophistication and artistry to the lyrics. Skilled songwriters tend to use wordplay really well.

It's also important to consider the song within the context of the social climate or historical period in which it was written.

Many songs have strong connections to specific points in time, and the lyrics reflect the cultural, political, or personal issues of that era.

For example, Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'" became an anthem for the 1960s civil rights movement and anti-war protests. No other song quite captured the spirit of social change and unrest like this one did.

Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" is another great example. This powerful song has a dark context, as it's about the lynching of African Americans in the early 20th century. The lyrics highlighted the brutal realities of racial violence during this time.

Get Yourself a High-Quality Pair of Headphones

While there's no reason you can't enjoy music on a set of speakers either in your house or in your car, I'd recommend getting your hands on some professional headphones if you really want to get into the nitty-gritty of songs.

When I say "professional headphones," I don't mean a set of AirPods. Sure, they sound great, but they don't deliver an accurate representation of music. Studio-quality headphones, on the other hand, allow you to hear every detail, from lead instruments and vocals to subtle background elements, such as the squeak on an acoustic guitar string or the air in the studio.

When looking for good listening headphones, consider the following features:

• Sound Quality: Look for headphones with a flat, neutral sound profile that accurately represents the music without coloring the sound.
• Comfort: Since active listening often involves extended sessions, get some headphones with comfortable ear pads and a headband that doesn't give you a headache after ten minutes.
• Build Quality : You want your headphones to last long, right?
• Isolation: Good noise isolation or active noise cancellation helps block out external sounds so you can focus entirely on the music.
• Frequency Response: A wide frequency response range allows you to hear both the low and high ends of the frequency spectrum clearly.

Some of my favorite recommendations for headphones include:

• Sennheiser HD 650: These open-back headphones are some of the most detailed and natural-sounding headphones around, which is why they've become so incredibly popular amongst audiophiles and music producers.
• Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro: These closed-back headphones provide a clear and spacious sound, and the design is comfortable for long listening sessions.
• Sony WH-1000XM4: If you're after some wireless headphones, these Sony cans offer top-notch sound quality and industry-leading noise cancellation, perfect for listening in noisy environments.

Seriously, invest in high-quality headphones, and you'll significantly enhance the way you listen to music.

The Best Ways to Listen to Music

In today's world, the ways in which you can listen to music are nearly endless.

From streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, and vinyl records to high-resolution digital files and live performances, each medium offers a unique experience for the listener.

However, every medium comes with its own set of pros and cons, and understanding those pros and cons can help you choose the best way to enjoy your favorite tunes.

Music Streaming Services

Music streaming services have revolutionized the way we listen to music by providing access to a massive range of songs at our fingertips.

Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music offer seemingly endless libraries, allowing you to explore virtually any genre, artist, or album. YouTube Music takes it a step further, allowing us to see music videos as accompaniment.

However, the sound quality of many of these services isn't always the best. This is because most streaming services use compressed audio formats to save bandwidth, which can result in a loss of detail and clarity in the music files.

If you want higher-quality audio, I'd recommend checking out streaming services like Tidal or Qobuz, as they offer options for streaming in lossless and high-resolution formats. As a result, you'll hear songs in a more accurate way.

One of the other downsides of using a streaming service is that many of them have ads if you don't pay for a premium subscription, sort of like what you'd find on radio stations. These interruptions can detract from the listening experience for anyone who has a free account.

Even with these drawbacks, there's no better way to discover new music or share music than with a streaming service. You can create custom playlists based on different musical tastes and store music in your own private library for listening at any time.

With advanced algorithms, these platforms can recommend similar music based on your listening history, helping you find new favorite songs and artists and expand your musical horizons. Whether you're in the mood for something familiar or looking to explore uncharted musical territory, music streaming services offer a convenient and versatile way to play music.

Cassettes

Cassettes are definitely the lowest-quality medium for listening to music.

The analog format has an inherently lower fidelity compared to digital formats, and the magnetic tape used in cassettes can introduce background noise and a limited frequency range. Plus, cassettes degrade over time. The more you play them, or the longer you leave them sitting in your hot car, the worse the quality will get.

Most new artists don't release their music in this format either, meaning the music you love listening to may not be available on cassette.

However, one positive aspect of cassettes is their nostalgic charm.

For many people, cassettes offer a sense of nostalgia that digital formats can't replicate. There's nothing like the physical act of playing a cassette. It's a satisfying ritual that has its own distinct sound, a sound that might be worth actively exploring on its own.

CDs

In terms of sound quality, CDs offer a significant improvement over cassettes. This is because the digital format provides clear, high-fidelity audio with a broader dynamic range and greater durability.

Unlike cassettes, CDs won't degrade over time (unless they get scratched, of course).

One of the key advantages of CDs is that most artists still release their music in this format, meaning you'll have access to just about all the music you can think of. Some artists even release CDs with liner notes and lyrics, which can give you a tangible connection to the music.

Vinyl Records

Lastly, we have vinyl records, which are a fantastic medium for both listening and collecting. The tactile experience of listening to a record is like nothing else. You really have to pay attention when you listen, as you can't skip from one song to the next as easily.

Vinyl records have made a significant comeback in recent years, and many artists are releasing new albums on vinyl. Even reissues of classic records have become widely available, meaning the selection of vinyl is ample.

As for the sound quality of vinyl records, it's about as good as you'll get. The analog format captures nuances in music that digital formats can miss. You get to enjoy a listening experience that many audiophiles consider to be top-notch. However, it's important to note that the quality of the vinyl pressings and the condition of the records themselves can affect the sound.

On the downside, while collecting vinyl can be rewarding, it can also be expensive. The price of records can vary greatly depending on their popularity and rarity. Newer releases and timeless classics often come at a premium, especially if they are limited editions or special pressings. Plus, record players can be a bit of a hassle. They need proper setup and maintenance, including regular cleanings and needle changes.

If you want to hear music how it should be heard, however, there's no better way to do it.

One Final Note

Whether you're a producer, a mix engineer, a songwriter, or a general music lover, I hope this article provides you with a different perspective on how to actively listen to music like a pro. The process of analytical listening might seem difficult at first, but the more you do it, the easier and more enjoyable it'll become.