Music during chess?

THE TICKING OF AN ANALOG CLOCK IS THE "MUSIC OF CHESS", AND THAT MY FRIENDS, IS ALL YOU NEED!!!

I feel that the use or non-use of music goes back to ones learning style.  I am an auditory learner, meaning that I learn best when I hear information and remember best when that information is tied to sound.  Also tied in with that is that sound does not distract my attention from what I am doing; for me a controlled sound, such as music I select, will help to focus me by using up excess bandwidth in my attention.  I used music when I played competitively in High School specifically the soundtrack to First Night.  It was (almost) all instrumental classical music and the music tied to the various battle scenes was both good and varied.

I do find it beneficial to listen to music while playing. The music I select will always be  classical or light instrumental. But the secret for me is to have the volume so low that it is just at the point where I can not readily hear the music.  Once I am concentrating on the chess, the music becomes detected by my subconcious mind.  I am not consciously listening to the music but I can "hear" it nontheless.  Simply stated, it is allowing your subconscious mind make greater use of your senses, in this case hearing.  This may sound weird but it works for me.

While the chess play , I don't listen... While the chess play I smoke.....

BobRich wrote:

I do find it beneficial to listen to music while playing. The music I select will always be  classical or light instrumental. But the secret for me is to have the volume so low that it is just at the point where I can not readily hear the music.  Once I am concentrating on the chess, the music becomes detected by my subconcious mind.  I am not consciously listening to the music but I can "hear" it nontheless.  Simply stated, it is allowing your subconscious mind make greater use of your senses, in this case hearing.  This may sound weird but it works for me.

 How clever!

Yeah, while playing online chess I'll go tp Playlist.com and listen to whatever I feel like hearing. I'm actually convinvced it helps me play better.

I thoroughly enjoy music in all aspects of my life, including chess.

While I listen to a lot of different things from my iPod while I play, I especially enjoy Tool (very focused music) or Pink Floyd (relaxing).

i usually listen to my playlist when i play games the one that usually get me most into the game is probably no apologies by eminem

phishcake5 wrote:

 ... can handle the maraccas, its the sitar music when I play Indians that drives me bongos...and I like sitar music normally.

I hope I don't run up against any Bolivians unexpectedly. My collection is light on pan-pipes.

I listen to Adigo g minor by Albinoni while training and studying Chess and I like listening to the sound track for Lord of the Rings The End of All Things by Howard Shore and Renee Flemming.

While playing white i listen to aerosmith, or billy joel, and playing black i listen to henry mancini, lord of the rings soundtracks, sometimes system of a down

i listen to the killers, muse, panic atd, 3 days grace, and others

it is ok in poker if playing cash games, but it varies from casino to casino for tournaments......  hmmm......  let's put some $ on the chess game and maybe then its ok...... 

and yes....music is on when I play...  (either game)

classical is good.....but when I am attacking, I like to change to Stevie Vai or Joe Satriani........  But Frank Zappa is great anytime!

i love listening to the japanese music i downloaded to itunes. some music gets me thinking faster, some gets my movements down faster, and some get me thinking much better.

Artfizz.....  You are one eclectic dude!  What kind of music do they play in Greenland?  hmmm....  I am surprised you have not requested music from the country or origin to play when you point and click on the flag......  I bet that white gospel sound that you listen to when playing some of our Southern US players puts you in a heavenly state of mind.....  I just need to be much more discriminating in my music when playing chess.  For example to me, some of that Arabic music could get quite distracting......  I mean no offense to aficinados of such, but that sound that they play on the airwaves there always reminds me of squirrels on acid...... just not conducive to my chess game.  Makes me hallucinate just listening to it.  I keep seeing my knights moving on their own and shaking their heads when I make a bad move...... If that stuff is on, I only play backgammon!

Whale song. What sort of music do they play in Wales?

zombywoof wrote: hmmm....  I am surprised you have not requested music from the country or origin to play when you point and click on the flag...... 

Now that is a good idea! Erik - can I have a 'rollover' Beethoven, please?

Trentmoller, Trapt, and Linkin Park.

Right now I'm listening to Metallica, Damage INC.

Never listen music when playing chess.  Even when I'm alone at home playing on the best chess site.

What about before playing? I like listening to AC/DC while going to the OTB game. Gets me in the right mood.