Steve Gillman asked:


How do you choose the relaxation music that works best? You can certainly start by experimenting with many different types. After all, it seems likely that what one person finds relaxing another will find irritating. But is it all just a matter of personal preference?

Actually no. Though ones personal tastes enter into the equation, there are reasons that some types of music are more relaxing than others. For example, both science and the experience of many people point to the usefulness of baroque music for relaxation. Studies have shown that baroque music at 60 beats per minute causes your brain to produce more alpha brainwaves. Why does that matter? More on that in a moment. For now, here are some specific examples of good relaxation music.

“Harpsichord Concerto in F Minor,” by J.S. Bach

“Concerto No.10 in F Major from Twelve Concerti Grossi,” by A. Corelli

“Winter” from “The Four Seasons,” by A. Vivaldi

“Canon in D,” by Pachelbel

“Adagio in G Minor for Strings,” by Albinoni

Often it’s just a passage from these that has the most relaxing effect. In the first three examples above, the movements referred to as “largo” work best.

What other types of music help people relax? Light jazz (try Luther Vandross) works for some. Eastern music, like that which uses the Indian Sitar, is another favorite (try Ravi Shankar). Generic easy listening music with sounds of nature mixed in is a common choice as well.

Any of the music in these examples is relatively inexpensive. Even the best “sounds of nature” and “easy listening” relaxation CDs are usually no more than twenty-five dollars. However, if you’re willing to spend a bit more, there is a more scientific approach to using relaxation music.

Altering Your Brainwaves

Some types of music work better than others because of what they do to our brainwaves. Our brains primarily produce brainwaves at 14 - 30 hertz (cycles-per-second) during normal waking consciousness. In this frequency range they are referred to as “beta” waves. Frequencies from 8 - 14 hertz are “alpha” waves, which are present when we are more relaxed. Around 4 - 8 hertz is the “theta” range, accompanied by a deeper meditative or drowsy state. Finally, during deep sleep delta waves (below 5 hertz) are produced.

Meditation stimulates the more relaxing states of consciousness especially if it is regularly practiced. The good news, if you don’t have the time nor inclination to meditate, is that music which has been embedded with certain beats works in the same way. This is the basis for the newest brainwave entrainment technologies, based on decades of research. Simply listen to these CDs or MP3s with headphones and they alter your brainwaves, causing a quick relaxation response.

In other words, if you’re willing to spend a little more, you get true relaxation technology. Also, these products generally have pleasant music for a background too (though some use rain or wave sounds). That makes them the best kind of relaxation music in my experience.

?

Steve Gillman asked:


How do you choose the best meditation music? Baroque music is often recommended, and particular pieces may have the right number of beats-per-minute to alter your brainwaves. But more on that in a moment. The science isn’t that settled in this area yet, and you may find that any music which you don’t enjoy will just distract you rather than help your meditative state.

Personal experimentation is called for then. You can start with baroque if you like. Compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach are commonly recommended. Try “Prelude from Cello Suite” or “Allemande” (Cello Suite 3). Frederick Handel’s music works well for many as well.

But you don’t have to limit your experimentation to classical music. Meditation music can include Jazz, guitar and Indian sitar compositions too. Gregorian chants are used by some, as are CDs with the sounds of nature mixed in with the music. We’re all unique enough that different things will work better for each of our meditation practices.

However, there is one element that can really improve meditation music. It is the addition of “binaural beats.” These are cyclic pulsations caused by having the same notes or sounds on an audio recording, but slightly out of tune with each other. The effect is to “entrain” your brainwaves, meaning they begin to follow the beats. This technology of “brainwave entrainment” has been around for a couple decades now, but it is being used more often now.

The idea is that the beats in the music will slow your brainwaves down so you go from the normal waking or “Beta” state of consciousness (14 to 30 hertz) to and “Alpha” brainwave state (8 - 14 hertz) or deeper. The alpha state is one of relaxed alertness, and is considered a light meditative state. The “Theta” state (4 - 8 hertz) is one of deeper meditation - if you stay awake (drowsiness is common).

Do this kind of meditation music work? My wife and I have tried several different products, and yes, brainwave entrainment works. My meditation CDs quickly put me into a relaxed meditative state, and the ones designed to synchronize brainwaves to the theta range (4 - 8 hertz) either facilitate deep meditation or, if I am laying down, put me to sleep. My wife found greater self awareness and less stress as results of listening as well.

So which is the best meditation music? Many kinds may work well. But what is added to the music may be the most important thing.