I want to understand about the different types of music - ideas please?

Question

Hi - now in my 50's I find I have the time to learn more and understand about the different types of music. Yesterday someone asked me if I liked Reggae - I had to ask them to play a piece for me as I did not know what Reggae means. Yes, I do - I listen to the music regularly at my daughter's house. My taste in music varies with my mood. I guess I am looking to be able to say Yes, I like that kind of music or not. The words at the moment are foreign to me. I carry paper and pen with me now so I can jot down the names and pieces etc that I hear. Any suggestions to help me with this would be gratefully accepted. Many thanks - RR

Answer 1

Well good for you!! Music is the upmost form of self expression whether your playing it or defining yourself with your favorites..

We'll start with your specific question....I would say Bob Marley is probably one of the most well known reggae artists but the genre is filled with great music and history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggae

Listen to as much as you can....find out what you like....go from there. When you find a band or artist you like try and find similiar sounding tunes. Discovering new music is a really amazing and forfilling thing. iTunes is set up really nice to be able to do just such thing.....with every song you search it shows you what listeners also bought, similiar sounding artists, compilations, etc.

Here is a brief overview of musical genres
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_genre




WALTER E:::
I am 21 so I guess that categorizes me as a young person. And I can tell you who Karen Carpenter, Peter Gabriel, America, Country Joe and the Fish and Moby Grape are. Not all young people are MTV brainwashed music listeners.

Answer 2

Personally, I really love roots & dub when it comes to reggae. This comes from my exposure to different types of reggae from having met Winston Grennan back in Baltimore (& listening to Bob Marley for years) to Jimmy Cliff & some of the other fine musicians I've heard at the Reggae on the River & the EarthDance festivals up north. Roots & dub are my favorites because I really dig the echo effect & the percussion & the beat - feels very spiritual to me.

I'd recommend checking out those plus such legends as Peter Tosh. Another good choice would be Michael Franti & Spearhead - although not strictly reggae, this awesome group does make good use of some great reggae (& political hip hop) grooves: http://www.spearheadvibrations.com

Here's a great site for listening to all kinds of streaming reggae radio for free online: http://radio.rightonscales.com

Hope you find what you like, and enjoy!

Answer 3

I am kind of in the same position. I have found it useful to ask younger people (especially those that work in record/CD stores). A lot of the time I actually knew without knowing. But put the shoe on the other foot. Do you think most of the young people today could tell you who Peter Gabriel, America or Karen Carpenter were (not to mention Quicksilver Messenger, Country Joe and the Fish and Moby Grape)? Some of it is a generational thing but fortunately you can take a step to fix that. Best of luck

Answer 4

you can download itunes on your computer.
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
itunes has a browsing section where you select different types of genres of music. They have everything you can imagine. You can also look up top of the chart hits. Obviously alot of people would enjoy top hits... maybe you might too.

Also, you say you write down names of songs/artists. If you enjoy them you can go to
http://www.pandora.com/
and type in the music you like. There they will find similiar bands that have the same sort of sound and they will play them for you.

I myself am a fan of music I love most genres from all decades. I'd recommend some stuff to you but I have no idea what you are in to. So hopefully those 2 sites will help.

Answer 5

I worked in the old world, predicted R&B and CW would come together, they did, I played Wille Nelson's music when he could not sell a record. Back then we played a lot of black, Motown, but I love CW more than ever now, and still love Willie !
George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Emmylou Harris are my favorites.

Answer 6

There's:
Alternative-rock music with vocals you can hear.
Rock-really loud noises accompanied by vocals you MAY hear
Heavy metal-really loud noises accompanied by vocals that scream at you. Could possibly be accompanied by a mosh pit.
Pop-the stuff on the radio that makes no sense.
Gangster Rap-swearing, cursing, vulgar, voilent

Answer 7

Check out Cannibal Corpse, or Brotha Lynch Hung "Return of da Baby Killer". They are adult contemporary musicans that write about issue's relevant to middle aged and older adults.

Answer 8

I would definitely get on iTunes because they have those genres/history lists that have all sorts of songs that belong to that category...good luck!

Answer 9

listen to loads