Author:
Virginia Floyd
Date Of Creation:
13 August 2021
Update Date:
9 May 2024
Content
Frank Zappa once said that "talking about music is like dancing about architecture." In a way, he may be right, but the ability to describe music vividly helps to appreciate it deeper. By analyzing the music and expressing your assessment in words, you will learn to hear details that you might have missed before. Your ability to describe a song will also come in handy if you are talking to a person and want to share musical recommendations with them.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Objective Opinion
1 Define a genre. Genres classify music in general terms; a significant part of musical works is connected with each other by the general atmosphere or structure of the composition, but usually all at once. Assigning a song to a specific genre is the easiest way to describe the music to the other person. Genres primarily determine sound, but also provide conditions such as text content and artistic intent. If the song you want to describe is within the genre, then it will be easier for you to categorize that song. - In contemporary music, bands often combine the characteristics of several genres in their work to achieve a unique sound. For a start, a group can be called 'eclectic' if it plays music that intersects different genres. Try not to reference more than one or two genres; otherwise, you will only confuse the interlocutor.
- For example, the music of The Beatles includes many styles, but they are most often viewed as representatives of the genre of pop music. Led Zeppelin's work can be attributed to anything from progressive music to blues or metal, but it hardly should be characterized as blues hard rock.
- For example, you could say, "Deathspell Omega's 'Obombration' is an interesting song from the band, it has a traditional black metal vibe, but uses mostly orchestral instruments, which makes it sound like very dark classical music."
2 Read the lyrics of the song. Most of the songs have a fairly clear theme. So, many songs of the pop genre tell about the romantic experiences of the performer. If the meaning of the song is not clear to you, then try researching the issue on the Internet. Many compositions (especially classical ones) have a certain background. Tell this story and describe the song to convey the character of the song. - For example, you might say, "Pink Floyd's" Dogs "talks about the aggressive nature of dogs, and also contains cynical comments about the wolf laws of modern society.
3 Check out the musical notation. Music notation is a way of accurately recording the objective details of a song for bandmates. It can take years to fully understand musical notation, but with a basic understanding of the musical means used, you will be able to better understand the songs. - The key of a song is a characteristic of the chords and notes that it uses. For example, 'minor key' sounds rather sad, while music in 'major key' is quite soulful.
- Tempo is the speed of a piece of music, a rhythmic pattern.
4 List the musicians. For styles of music such as jazz, where performance is paramount, it is important to identify the specific people who contributed to the song. Tell the other person who is performing a specific song from the popular music genre, and he will be able to clearly imagine the sound of such a song. Many famous performers have highly recognizable vocal abilities, so include the singer's name as a guide to what to expect from the song. - For example: "Album In a silent way Miles Davis is so great, not least thanks to the participation of Chick Corea and John McLaughlin (among others). If you listen closely, you can see how their personalities are mingling with that of Davis. "
Method 2 of 2: Subjective opinion
1 Listen to the music carefully. You need to immerse yourself more deeply in the music than in formal analysis in order to generate a full emotional response. Find a quiet and secluded place and play the song of your choice. Focus on the mood of the composition. Listen carefully to the lyrics of the song. As you listen, try to understand the artist's feelings at the time they created the song. Get into the music with all your heart and soul to accurately understand and communicate your personal reaction to the material. - It is preferable to listen to music with headphones; this way you get away from outside noise and you can catch subtle details.
2 Read music reviews. Journalists and columnists make their living by describing music in the most imaginative and attractive (or unattractive) way. Album reviews are common these days, so it shouldn't be difficult for you to see different points of view on the most controversial albums. Other people's thoughts will help you describe your attitude towards music more accurately. The online magazine Pitchfork is quite popular, but the pompous style of presentation will not suit everyone. Also, themed and underground publications such as “Heathen Harvest Periodical” or “Prog Sphere Magazine” can be cited as examples of visual descriptions of music. - Music reviews are also published in print media. Many newspapers have a column of reviews for new music albums and films. Books about music are also published, which describe specific groups, genres or time periods.
3 Try visualizing music. This way you can match it to your inner intent. If you want to describe the music in an interesting way, try meditating and presenting the song as the soundtrack in an imaginary movie. From a habit, this idea may seem strange to you, but it's a great way to immerse yourself and appreciate the music without distraction. - For example: If the music is sad, then you can imagine rain or a picture of loss. If the music is lively, then it could be a sports car ride. In the case of calm music, you might think of kittens falling asleep on a blanket. Misinterpretations simply do not exist; if the music evoked quite specific imaginative associations in you, then there are reasons for this.
4 Use metaphors and poetic language. Music is a deeply personal creative endeavor, already based on a poetic nature. It makes sense that the description of music can also be poetic. If you are emotionally disturbed by a song, then it is best to express your feelings using metaphors. Metaphors and other descriptive poetic devices (such as comparison) convey the emotional state that occurs when listening to music. - Example metaphor: Song Paracletus Deathspell Omega is a whirlpool of deliberate madness.
- Comparison example: Anton Bruckner's First Symphony seems to take us to a gala evening that takes place in Prussia in the 19th century.
5 Compare the song to others. If you heard a song that made a certain impression on you, then you can probably compare the feeling of listening to some other song. Comparison can lead to strong associations and specific expectations in the mind of your interlocutor. Music can be compared objectively (genre, tempo, musicians) or subjectively (mood, atmosphere). - For example: "Dream Theater's" A Change of Seasons "is a bit like Yes's" Close to the Edge "in terms of its seemingly disordered structure, but it sounds a little heavier and a little darker."
Tips
- If you still find it difficult to describe a song that you liked, then you can always ask a friend's opinion. Ask a friend to listen to this song and describe it to you. Someone else's opinion can lead you to certain thoughts.
- Understanding music is definitely a skill, and quite an important one. It includes many benefits, and being able to describe the music you listen to will surely help you enjoy it on a whole different level.
Warnings
- It must be understood that some aspects of music simply cannot be conveyed with words alone. There are things you need to feel in order to understand. Music is no exception.
- Don't be too upset if you can't describe the song. There may be quite reasonable explanations and reasons for this. Excessive stress will only prevent you from feeling and understanding the material. If this is the case, then take a break and after a while return to the song again with a sober head.
