Undoubtedly, music is a large influence in my day-to-day life. Having been a musician for the better part of 2 decades, I tend to have a deeper appreciation for the elements of an audio track. I find myself picking things out of an arrangement that most people tend to take for granted. The guitar riff doesn’t just “sound awesome” but, I appreciate the syncopation with the percussion, etc. This can be more easily identifiable with groups like System of a Down and Tool.

I’ve played bass guitar for 20+ years so, it’s easy to accept that I’m a bass junkie. Not necessarily an 808 thump type of bass but, rather, “bass” from a tonal and harmonic standpoint. Don’t get me wrong, I have my EDM days but, that’s not what I mean, in this regard.

Whereas we all have our daily routines and vices, our immediate taste for a musical genre seems to be more fluid depending on our mood and emotional state. One day, you might need to feed off of some rock or metal. Other times, you might just want to relax to something classical or acoustic. In any case, we all “like” certain genres but, sometimes, our emotions/minds need something different.

Over the past several years, I find myself riding the musical genre rollercoaster on a regular basis. However, 2 things that I tend to gravitate toward are binaural beats and sound tracks that induce Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). When you search for either of these, you’ll be met with numerous examples so, I won’t spoil your exploration with my own suggestions or interests. Just know that if you haven’t already taken a dip in the binaural beat or ASMR pool, then you’re in for a treat.

Binaural Beats

Binaural Beats utilize variations in sound wave patterns (Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma) to promote therapeutic support for certain areas of the mind or concentrations (sleep, mediation, alertness, learning, stress reduction, creativity, etc.). Just like slipping into a new pair of shoes, it may take some time to acclimate yourself to the “odd sounds” that seem to pour out of the speakers but, depending our your area of focus, you’ll likely begin to realize the effects and benefits.

ASMR

ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) is a “low-grade euphoria” characterized by “a combination of positive feelings and a distinct static-like tingling sensation on the skin”. It’s often used to foster relaxation and a sort of conscious meditation. ASMR has different effects for different people but, many times, I’ll run audio tracks that induce ASMR effects in order to focus while I work.

While I can’t make any guarantees that you’ll experience an effect or enjoy either, I’d still recommend running through a few examples of binaural beats and ASMR. Both are experienced, best, with headphones or earbuds. I prefer earbuds, between the two. For the sake of the binaural beats, just ensure that your listening device is capable.

This post is day 2 of my #100DaysToOffload challenge. Visit https://100daystooffload.com to get more info, or to get involved.

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